Prepare Your Alberta Home for Listing Photos: A Room-by-Room Checklist

Start with a plan for photo day

A tidy room can still photograph with a charging cable across the floor, paperwork on the fridge or a car filling the front window. Before listing photos, walk through your home with the camera's view in mind. This checklist works for sellers in Calgary, Grande Prairie and elsewhere in Alberta.

Confirm the appointment length, rooms being photographed and any video or 3D-tour plans with your REALTOR® and photographer. Ask about lighting preferences and where to place temporary storage. Finish the main cleaning the day before, leaving photo day for a short reset.

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First, protect personal information and valuables

RECA advises sellers' representatives to recommend securing valuables and confidential or personal items before showings. Apply that same care before photography, when private details can become part of a public image. Agree with your REALTOR® on where images will appear and raise any privacy concerns before the visit.

• Put away mail, bills, passports, prescriptions and documents showing account numbers or signatures.
• Remove family photographs, children's names, school schedules and certificates you do not want displayed online.
• Lock computer screens, clear visible calendars and check mirrors for reflected paperwork or photographs.
• Secure jewellery, cash, spare keys and small valuables. Choose storage that will remain secure during later showings.

Sources: RECA: Access to Property, page 5

Kitchen and dining area

Clean first, then simplify the surfaces so counters, cabinetry and walking space are easy to see.

• Clear dishes, drying racks, dishcloths and most small appliances from counters. Empty and wipe the sink.
• Remove fridge magnets and papers; wipe appliance fronts and fingerprints around handles.
• Put recycling, garbage bins and pet bowls in the agreed storage area.
• Wipe the dining table, straighten chairs and keep any centrepiece low enough to leave the room visible.

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Living room, entry and hallways

Stand in each doorway and check the whole view, including the next room. Clear shoes, coats, bags, remotes and visible charging cords. Straighten cushions and rugs, wipe glass tables and turn off televisions.

Keep walking routes open and furniture safely positioned. Open curtains and blinds as directed by the photographer, and clean accessible window glass. Test lamps and replace failed bulbs with suitable bulbs. Ask before changing every bulb or switching all lights on; the photographer may have a preferred setup.

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Bedrooms and bathrooms

• Make beds, smooth bedding and clear bedside tables of medicines, tissues and chargers.
• Put laundry away and remove items visible beneath beds. Ask whether walk-in closets will be photographed before using them for storage.
• Clean mirrors, taps and shower glass. Clear toothbrushes, razors, cosmetics and cleaning products from view.
• Hang clean towels neatly, close toilet lids and empty small wastebaskets. Keep essential items accessible in a portable basket until the photographer arrives.

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Office, basement, laundry and garage

Clear desks of work documents and tidy loose cables. Fold or put away laundry and wipe appliance tops. Group stored items neatly without blocking doors, electrical panels or mechanical equipment.

Check which utility and garage areas are included in the shoot. Avoid moving everything into one room only to discover that room is also on the photo list.

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Front entrance, yard and outdoor spaces

Move your vehicles out of the driveway and the planned exterior view when safe and permitted. Put away hoses, tools, toys and bins. Sweep steps and patios, straighten outdoor furniture and clean the entry door.

For an autumn Alberta shoot, check for fallen leaves, frost or slippery steps shortly before arrival. Clear snow and ice if present. Ask about an alternative exterior-photo time if weather prevents safe access or a clear view.

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The final walkthrough

Arrange a safe place for pets and keep household members out of the shooting area. Take a quick phone photo from each doorway to spot overlooked clutter, then put away the cleaning supplies.

Preparation should preserve an accurate picture of the property. Do not cover damage or request edits that remove defects or permanent features. Raise condition concerns with your REALTOR® before photography. RECA requires advertising to be truthful and not misleading. Ask to check the finished images for accidental personal details before publication.

Sources: RECA: Advertising Guidelines for Licensees