Prep guide
Prepare for your shoot
Our photographers use the allotted time for photography only and aren't expected to accommodate delays from last-minute staging, cleaning, moving items, or occupants leaving. We appreciate your preparation.
Time on-site
Time on-site depends on your home and what you're booking. Plan accordingly:
| Home size | Photos only | With virtual tour |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 sqft | 30–45 min | 1 – 1.5 hrs |
| 1,500 – 3,000 sqft | ~1 hour | ~2 hours |
| 3,000 – 5,000 sqft | 1 – 1.5 hrs | 2.5 – 3 hrs |
| Over 5,000 sqft | 1.5 – 2 hrs | 3 – 4 hrs |
"With virtual tour" applies to Premium and to any iGuide or Zillow add-on — the photographer walks the home a second time to capture it.
Required
- ✓Toilet seats down
- ✓All lights on
- ✓Fans off
- ✓TVs off
- ✓Realtor signs removed
- ✓Blinds and drapes open
- ✓Vehicles removed from property and nearby street
- ✓Pets secured or removed
- ✓Front and back yards picked up
Optional but helpful
- ○Clean windows
- ○Freshly mowed yard
- ○Window screens removed
- ○Snow and leaves removed
If no one is meeting the photographer
Basic prep (lights on, blinds open, toilet seats down) is handled by us at no charge. Anything beyond that — or an exceptionally large home — adds a $50 staging fee.