The Complete Listing-Prep Checklist Before Photo Day

Photo day only works as well as the prep behind it. The listings that come back looking polished, bright and buyer-ready almost always share the same thing: a homeowner or listing coordinator who ran through a short checklist the night before and the morning of. Here is the one we use on Ready Set Sold Media shoots across Surrey, Langley, Vancouver and the wider Lower Mainland.

Quick Checklist Overview

If you only have five minutes, focus on these six things: lights on and blinds open, kitchen and bathroom counters cleared, floors and mats picked up, pets and vehicles out of sight, TVs and screens off, and yard tidy. Everything below is the deeper version of that list, organised the way we walk through a home.

Exterior and Curb Appeal

The first photo most buyers see is a front exterior or a drone hero shot. It sets the tone for everything that follows, so this is worth extra time.

• Move vehicles off the driveway and away from the front of the home. Ideally park on a nearby street or in the garage.
• Remove garbage, recycling and green bins from view.
• Cut, edge and clear the lawn of leaves, branches and pet waste.
• Coil and store water hoses, extension cords and garden tools.
• Take down "for sale," security, school and seasonal yard signs.
• Sweep or lightly wash the driveway, walkway and front steps.
• Straighten patio furniture, open patio umbrellas, and add a cushion or two to soften hard chairs.
• Skim the pool, hot tub or water feature and remove toys and cleaners.

Kitchen and Main Living Areas

These rooms carry most of the marketing weight, so treat every surface like it will be photographed. It probably will be.

• Clear countertops and islands completely — toasters, coffee makers, knife blocks, dish racks, everything. A single styled item (a bowl of fruit, a small plant) is enough.
• Hide dish soap, sponges, hand soap and paper towels.
• Wipe stainless steel, glass cooktops and backsplashes.
• Remove fridge magnets, kids' art, schedules and family photos.
• Tuck chairs neatly under the dining and kitchen tables.
• Fluff sofa cushions and fold throws.
• Clear coffee tables to one or two curated items — a book, a candle, a small tray.
• Hide remotes, chargers, cables and gaming controllers.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

• Make every bed tightly with clean linens, and add a few pillows if bedding looks flat.
• Clear nightstands to a lamp and one small item.
• Hide laundry hampers, phone chargers and personal items in closets or drawers.
• Close closet doors unless the closet is a feature.
• Remove all bathroom counter items — toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, hair tools, deodorant, medication. Leave only styled essentials such as rolled towels or a soap dispenser.
• Clear tubs and showers of bottles, kids' toys and cleaning supplies.
• Take shampoo caddies down from shower walls.
• Put toilet lids down and swap in fresh hand towels.

Lights, Blinds, Bulbs, TVs and Ceiling Fans

Cameras are far more sensitive to mixed light than the eye. A single yellow bulb in a room full of daylight bulbs will pull an entire photo off-colour. A few small fixes make a big difference.

• Replace burnt-out bulbs, and try to match colour temperatures across each room (warm white is usually safest).
• Turn on every light — overhead, lamps, under-cabinet, closet, exterior porch and landscape lights.
• Open blinds and sheers unless the view is a wall or a fence. Your photographer will adjust on site if needed.
• Turn off televisions, computer monitors, projectors, ring lights and screensavers.
• Stop ceiling fans at least five minutes before the shoot begins so the blades photograph cleanly.

Pets, Vehicles, Cords and Personal Info

• Send pets out of the home during the appointment, or contain them in the garage or a single room the photographer will not shoot.
• Collect leashes, litter boxes, food bowls, cages and pet beds.
• Move vehicles out of sight as noted above.
• Cover or move sensitive items — mail, prescriptions, chequebooks, calendars with names, wall diplomas with full names.
• Tidy visible cords behind desks and TVs, or tuck them out of frame.

Drone and Twilight-Specific Prep

Aerial and blue-hour shoots have a few extra requirements.

• For drone: clear the roof, gutters and yard of debris, and put away trampolines, tarps, seasonal decor and children's toys if a top-down shot is planned. Weather, wind, airspace and property access all affect whether drone can safely and legally fly on a given day — your photographer will make that call on site.
• For true twilight: leave every interior and exterior light on for the blue-hour window, and make sure landscape and pool lighting is functional before the shoot.
• Confirm access to the backyard, side gates, garage and any locked outbuildings that need to be photographed.

Who Handles What on Shoot Day

A quick split so nothing falls through the cracks.

• Homeowner or listing coordinator: everything on this checklist. Prep happens before the media team arrives.
• Realtor: confirm access, share the shot list, flag hero features and any privacy-sensitive rooms, and be available by phone during the shoot.
• Ready Set Sold Media: shoot direction, small in-frame styling tweaks (straightening a chair, adjusting a pillow), lighting, drone, floor plan capture, and delivery of the final media through our secure gallery.

Final Same-Day Checklist

The morning of the shoot, walk the home one more time and do this short pass:

1. Every light on. Every screen off.
2. Blinds open. Ceiling fans stopped.
3. Kitchen and bathroom counters cleared.
4. Floors picked up. Rugs and mats stored if the checklist calls for it.
5. Pets out. Vehicles moved.
6. Front door, side gates and backyard accessible.
7. Trash and recycling bins hidden.

Printable Checklist

Use the version below on shoot day. Tap Print Checklist to print a clean copy or save it as a PDF.

Book Your Next Shoot

We shoot listings across Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby and the wider Lower Mainland, with photography, drone and videography that all use this same prep list. Book a shoot, browse our pricing, or explore recent portfolio work. Homeowners can also use our home prep guide for a longer-form walkthrough.

Explore our photography service and local media coverage, or request an itemized quote.