How to Prep Your Home for Listing Photos in Las Cruces (Room-by-Room Checklist)

Your listing photos are the first showing. Most buyers decide whether to book a tour from the photos alone, so a little prep before the shoot pays off more than almost anything else you can do for a listing. Here's the checklist we give our Las Cruces agents and sellers, plus a few things that are specific to homes here in the desert.

The week before the shoot

• Replace burnt-out bulbs, and match the color. Mixing warm and cool bulbs in one room shows up in photos as uneven yellow and blue light.
• Touch up obvious scuffs on walls, baseboards and doors.
• Handle the yard early. Pull weeds out of gravel, rake rock landscaping smooth, trim bushes away from windows and the front entry, and fill in any bare spots.
• Wash the windows, inside and out if you can. Our wind and dust leave a film you won't notice in person but the camera will.

Exterior

• Move every car out of the driveway and off the street in front of the home.
• Put trash and recycling bins out of sight: in the garage or around the side.
• Close the garage doors.
• Coil or hide hoses, remove kids' toys, and clear the front porch except for one or two decor pieces.
• Hose the dust off patios, walkways and outdoor furniture.
• If there's a pool, clean it, run the pump earlier so the water is clear, and take the cover off.

Kitchen

• Clear the counters completely: appliances, knife blocks, dish soap, sponges, paper towels.
• Take everything off the fridge: magnets, photos, calendars.
• Leave at most one simple decor item, like a bowl of fruit or a plant.
• Close all cabinets and the dishwasher.

Living and dining areas

• Remove clutter from coffee tables, side tables and shelves. Fewer, bigger items read better on camera.
• Straighten and fluff couch cushions and throw pillows.
• Hide remotes, cords, chargers and gaming gear.
• Set the dining table simply or leave it clear.

Bedrooms

• Make every bed with smooth, neutral bedding.
• Clear nightstands down to a lamp and maybe one book.
• Put away clothes, shoes and laundry baskets, and close closet doors.

Bathrooms

• Remove every toiletry from counters and showers: toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, razors.
• Put toilet seats down.
• Hang fresh, matching towels, or remove towels entirely.
• Take bath mats and toilet rugs out of the room.

Shoot day

• Turn on every light in the house: lamps, under-cabinet lights, exterior lights.
• Open all blinds and curtains.
• Turn off ceiling fans and TVs.
• Take pets out of the home if possible, and hide pet beds, bowls and litter boxes.
• Do one last walk-through with your phone camera. If something catches your eye on the screen, it'll catch a buyer's eye too.

Las Cruces-specific tips

Wind and dust. Spring afternoons here can get gusty. If the patio and outdoor furniture were cleaned a few days early, give them a quick wipe the morning of the shoot.

Bright sun. Our midday sun is harsh. Which way the front of the home faces affects the best time for exterior photos, so mention it when you book and we'll plan around it.

Views and twilight. If the home has mountain or city-light views, ask about twilight photos or a virtual twilight edit. A glowing home at dusk is one of the strongest lead photos you can have.

Ready to book? See our real estate photography or book a shoot online. Photos are delivered the next day.