Seller prep guide
How to Get Your Home Ready for Listing Photos and a Floor Plan Scan
Before your listing goes live, we schedule professional photos and a floor plan scan. Buyers see both first when they find your home online, and your prep before we arrive helps the house make a strong first impression.
Before we arrive
Why prep before the shoot
Your photos and floor plan are the first things buyers see online. We want them to make the kind of impression that gets people to stop scrolling and start scheduling tours.
Our photographer and floor plan team work in-house, and they handle the capture. Your prep before they arrive makes a big difference. It lets your home show at its best from the first photo, and it saves us from rescheduling or moving things around while we're on-site.
Step 1
General prep for every room
Start with these six jobs. They apply to every room the camera will see.
Declutter living spaces
Clear counters, tables, desks, and dressers. Store anything that doesn't need to be seen, including remotes, mail, toys, and small appliances, so buyers focus on the room.
Clean every room
Clean rooms look better in photos. Buyers who see a spotless house assume you've handled repairs, maintenance, and seasonal upkeep with the same care.
Put away personal items
Store family photos, personal care products, and flashy decor for now. Buyers should picture themselves living in the space.
Turn on every light
Go room by room, make sure every bulb works, and flip every switch on. Well-lit rooms look bigger, warmer, and more inviting.
Open blinds and curtains
Open window treatments to let in natural light, so each room feels open, fresh, and connected to the outdoors.
Put away pet supplies
Pick up pet beds, toys, bowls, and litter boxes. We love pets, but buyers need to focus on your home.
Step 2
Room-by-room prep
Work through each room with this list.
Living room
Fluff the pillows and straighten throw blankets.
Clear the coffee and end tables.
Hide cables, chargers, and remotes.
Turn the TV off, even during the game.
Kitchen
Wipe down every surface.
Clear the counters completely, including coffee makers, knife blocks, and dish racks.
Take magnets, photos, and papers off the fridge.
Empty the trash.
Hang a fresh dish towel on the oven handle for a finishing touch.
Bedrooms
Make the beds hotel-style: tight, clean, and wrinkle-free.
Clear the nightstands and dressers.
Pick up clothes and laundry.
Use neutral bedding if you have it. Simple looks best.
Bathrooms
Close the toilet lids.
Put away toothbrushes, razors, and toiletries.
Hang fresh, clean towels.
Remove bath mats and trash cans.
Wipe down mirrors and counters.
Laundry area
Empty baskets and hampers.
Clear any shelves or folding areas.
Put away detergents and cleaning products.
Entryway and hallways
Remove shoes, jackets, bags, and keys.
Clear every surface. A clean, open entryway makes the perfect welcome shot.
Step 3
Getting ready for the floor plan scan
We combine mobile device scanning, photo reference, and laser measurements to draw an accurate, detailed floor plan of your home before it lists. Help us get it right the first time.
Open every door and doorway
Open the doors to every room the scan will include, and move any furniture or items that block narrow hallways or doorways.
Turn on every light
Turn on the lights in every room, the same as for the photos.
Keep the floors clear
Clear floor clutter that could block a measurement or make a room harder to capture.
Stay out of the scan path
Avoid walking through the space while we scan.
Step 4
Before we arrive
Be photo-ready on time
Finish your prep before our scheduled time. We can work quickly, and the photos show all the work you put in.
Track it on paper
Download our one-page PDF checklist, print it, and check off each room as you finish.
After the photos
Selling your home
Our listing agents schedule the photos and the floor plan scan before every listing goes live. If you haven't priced your home yet, request a free CMA and we'll email it within one business day.
Each town guide has a section for sellers with what buyers there compare.
See how our listing agents price a home for its first weekend and get it ready before it goes live.
- Selling in Beverly and Mt. Greenwood
- Selling in Oak Lawn
- Selling in Evergreen Park
- Selling in Palos Hills, Palos Park, and Palos Heights
- Selling in Alsip
- Selling in Bridgeview
- Selling in Hickory Hills
- Selling in Willow Springs
- Selling in Countryside
- Selling in Blue Island
- Selling in Homewood and Flossmoor
- Selling in Wheaton
- Selling in Naperville
- Selling in Elmhurst
- Selling in Glen Ellyn
- Selling in St. Charles
- Selling in Bartlett
- Selling in Barrington
- Every area we serve
Questions sellers ask
Questions about photo day
Who takes the listing photos and scans the floor plan?
Our own photographer and floor plan team do both. We keep that work in-house.
Does the floor plan cost extra?
No. PLUS floor plans are included with all photo shoots at no additional charge. Photos and floor plans are included for all Dorazio Real Estate listing clients.
How do you measure for the floor plan?
We combine mobile device scanning, photo reference, and laser measurements. Open every interior door, turn on the lights, and keep the floors clear so we get it right the first time.
What if I'm not sure where to start?
Reach out, and we'll walk through prep ideas with you based on your home's layout.
We're on your team
Need help getting ready?
Not sure where to start? We're happy to walk through prep ideas with you based on your home's layout, so it gets the attention it deserves from the first day it lists.
Or send a note through our contact page.