The prep checklist we wish every owner got before shoot day

Managers usually have a turn crew that preps to a standard. Owner-managed properties are where we see the most avoidable problems, and nearly all of them are fixed the night before for free. Bulbs first. Replace anything burned out, and match color temperature across the room. Mixed warm and cool bulbs in one space is the single most common correction we make in post on owner properties, and it is the one that costs the most editing time for the least visible gain. Clear every horizontal surface. Counters, nightstands, the top of the dresser, the back of the toilet. Small appliances go in cabinets. Personal items, medications, and mail leave the frame entirely. Make the beds with the linens guests actually receive, not the spare set. Iron or steam the top layer. Wrinkled white bedding is very visible at listing scale. Open every blind and curtain to the same height. Uneven window treatments read as sloppy across a gallery even when no single frame looks wrong. Outdoor spaces need the same attention as interiors on this coast, because they are frequently the differentiator. Cushions on, umbrellas up, grill cleaned, hoses coiled out of frame, and anything stored under the deck moved. Pool and water features should be running and skimmed. A still pool with debris photographs badly and cannot be fixed convincingly afterward. Cars out of the driveway and off the frontage if you can manage it, including the neighbor's if you are on good terms. Finally, tell us about the property's one real problem before we arrive. Every property has something: a view blocked by construction, a dated bathroom, an awkward room. We can shoot around almost anything if we know in advance. Discovering it on the day usually costs a compromise somewhere else in the gallery.