Agent Guides
Short answer: To prepare a Houston home for listing photos, clean and declutter every room, clear counters and floors, make sure every light works, and move cars, trash bins and hoses out of sight. In the hot months, mow a day or two ahead, clean the pool and turn off its jets before the shoot, and keep the AC at a normal setting so windows don’t fog on humid mornings.
Agents: forward this page to your seller. Sellers: listing photos are the first showing of your home, and most buyers decide from them whether to visit. An hour or two of preparation makes a bigger difference than any camera. Work through this list in order.
The week before
- Replace dead or mismatched bulbs. Use the same color in each room (warm white is safest) so photos don’t mix yellow and blue light.
- Fix small things buyers will notice: loose cabinet doors, a dripping faucet, scuffed walls, burnt-out exterior lights.
- Pack away personal photos, collections, kids’ artwork, religious and political items, and anything with names on it.
- Plan where pets will be during the shoot.
- Book a cleaner for the day before if you can.
Inside, room by room
Every room
- Turn on every light: ceiling fixtures, lamps, under-cabinet and accent lights.
- Turn ceiling fans off so they don’t blur.
- Open blinds and shutters to the same angle in every room.
- Turn off TVs and screens.
- Clear floors of shoes, bags, baskets and cords.
Kitchen
- Clear counters down to two or three decorative items at most.
- Remove everything from the front of the fridge: magnets, photos, calendars.
- Put away dish soap, sponges, towels, paper towels, small appliances and the trash can.
- Close cabinet doors, the dishwasher and the oven.
Living and dining areas
- Straighten cushions and throws, and square up rugs.
- Hide remotes, chargers, game controllers and magazines.
- Push dining chairs in evenly and clear the table, or set one simple centerpiece.
Bedrooms
- Make beds with smooth, light-colored bedding if you have it.
- Clear nightstands except a lamp.
- Close closet doors and clear anything under the bed that shows.
Bathrooms
- Clear counters, tub edges and shower shelves of toiletries.
- Hang one or two matching, folded towels, or none.
- Remove bath mats, the toilet brush, the trash can and scales.
- Put the toilet lid down.
Office, laundry and garage
- Clear desks of papers and turn monitors off.
- Close washer and dryer doors and put away detergent and laundry baskets.
- Close the garage door before exterior photos.
Outside, yard and pool
- Move every vehicle out of the driveway, and away from the street in front of the house if you can.
- Put away trash and recycling bins, hoses, tools, toys and bikes.
- Mow, edge and blow off walkways one or two days before, not the morning of, so clippings settle.
- Remove yard signs and seasonal decorations. HAR doesn’t allow legible contact information in listing photos (Rule 1.25.1), so a sign with a phone number in the shot is a problem.
- Set out patio furniture with cushions on, uncover and wipe down the grill, and sweep the patio.
- Pool: skim and brush it, remove the pool cleaner, floats and cover, then turn off fountains, jets and waterfalls shortly before the shoot so the water is calm.
Houston heat-season tips
Houston’s summers bring heat, humidity and pop-up storms, and hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. A few local adjustments help:
- Water the lawn a few days ahead so it photographs green, then mow a day or two before.
- Keep the AC at a normal setting. On humid mornings, very cold windows can fog on the outside and show up in photos.
- Take down storm prep such as plywood, shutters and sandbags once a storm has passed, if it’s safe to do so.
- Expect afternoon storms in summer. If rain hits during the shoot, the interiors can still be photographed and the exteriors redone later.
Privacy and security
- Put away mail, bills, documents, prescriptions, keys and anything with an address or account number.
- Store jewelry, cash, firearms, small electronics and other valuables out of sight.
- Remove children’s names from walls and doors.
- Turn off or point away security cameras if you prefer they not appear in photos.
One limit: preparing a home means cleaning, not concealing. HAR requires listing photos to show the property accurately in its as-is condition (Rule 1.25.5), and edits that change the property itself have to be disclosed (see Virtual Staging and Virtual Twilight on HAR).
If you’ve booked twilight, drone or a 3D tour
- Twilight: test indoor, outdoor, landscape and pool lights the day before, and have someone on site who can work the controls.
- Drone: nothing extra inside, but a clear driveway and tidy roof line matter more from above. Your photographer handles airspace (see Flying Drones Over Houston Listings).
- 3D tour: prepare every room that will be scanned, open interior doors and keep walkways clear.
What to send your photographer
- Access details: how the photographer gets in (someone on site, or a seller-approved combination lockbox and its code), the gate code and alarm instructions. Agents can’t share their Supra key with a photographer (HAR Rule 6.2).
- Features you want shown: a renovated kitchen, the backyard, a view, a workshop.
- Rooms to skip, and whether anyone or any pets will be home.
- Your listing date. HAR requires at least six photos within 10 days of the list date (Rule 1.25.1; see HAR Listing Photo Rules, Explained).
How PRO360 Photos handles shoot day
PRO360 Photos photographs listings across Greater Houston, with listing photos delivered by 9 a.m. the next morning. A few things to know before the appointment, all from the booking policy:
- The home should be ready at the start time. PRO360 doesn’t move furniture, clean or stage.
- If the home isn’t ready, you choose: photograph it as it is, with no extra editing to remove clutter, or reschedule, which counts as a cancellation on arrival ($150, or the order total if lower).
- Access delays: the first 15 minutes of waiting are free. After that, a one-time $25 waiting fee applies if the shoot goes ahead.
- Weather is never charged. Reschedule free, or shoot interiors as planned and return for exteriors at no extra cost. During a tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning, all scheduling fees are waived.
- Free changes up to 24 hours before the appointment.
Compare packages or book a shoot, and share this checklist with your seller when you do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare my house for real estate photos?
Clean and declutter every room, clear kitchen and bathroom counters, make beds, put away personal items, turn on every light, and move cars, bins and hoses away from the front of the house.
Should the lights be on or off for listing photos?
On. Turn on every ceiling light, lamp and under-cabinet light, and replace dead bulbs with matching ones. Turn ceiling fans off so they don't blur.
Should cars be in the driveway during the photo shoot?
No. Move all vehicles out of the driveway and, if possible, away from the street in front of the house so the exterior photos show the home, not the cars.
What should we do with pets during the shoot?
Take pets out of the house or keep them in one room the photographer won't need, and put away bowls, beds, toys and litter boxes.
How should I prepare a pool for listing photos?
Skim and brush it, take out the pool cleaner and floats, remove any cover, and turn off fountains and jets shortly before the shoot so the water is calm.
What happens if it rains on photo day in Houston?
With PRO360 Photos, you never pay for weather. You can reschedule free, or the interiors are shot as planned and the exteriors are photographed on the next suitable day at no extra cost.
Sources
- HAR MLS Rules and Regulations, dated June 8, 2026 (Rules 1.25.1 and 1.25.5)
- National Weather Service: Hurricane safety (season dates)
- PRO360 Photos: Scheduling, Cancellation and Travel Policy