Realtor guide
How to prep a home for listing photos and video
The three things that matter most before a listing shoot: clear every surface, turn on every light and open every blind, and get cars, bins and hoses out of sight. Below is the full room-by-room checklist I send realtors in Kelowna and the Okanagan. Forward it to your sellers a few days before the shoot.
By Chad Giesbrecht, Pixel Pro Productions, Kelowna · Updated October 15, 2026
What prepped rooms look like
Clear surfaces, lights on, blinds open
Pixel Pro Productions · pixelpro.ca · 250.215.7070 · Book at booking.pixelpro.ca
Whole house
- Turn on every light, including lamps, under-cabinet lights and the fireplace.
- Open every blind and curtain fully.
- Turn off TVs, computer screens and ceiling fans.
- Replace burnt-out bulbs, and try to keep bulb colours matching in the same room.
- Put away family photos, mail, keys, chargers and anything with a name on it.
- Hide pet bowls, beds, litter boxes and toys.
- Close toilet lids and closet doors.
Kitchen
- Clear the counters almost completely. One bowl of fruit or a plant is plenty.
- Put away dish soap, sponges, towels, the kettle, the toaster and small appliances.
- Clear magnets, papers and photos off the fridge.
- Empty the sink and run the dishwasher.
Living and dining rooms
- Clear coffee tables and side tables. Leave a book or a plant at most.
- Fluff and straighten cushions and throws.
- Put remotes, game consoles and cords out of sight.
- Set the dining table simply, or leave it clear.
Bedrooms
- Make the beds with smooth, light-coloured bedding where possible.
- Clear nightstands down to a lamp.
- Put away clothes, laundry baskets and anything on the floor.
Bathrooms
- Clear counters, tub edges and shower ledges completely: toothbrushes, razors, bottles, everything.
- Hang one set of matching, folded towels, or none.
- Remove bath mats and the garbage can.
- Close the toilet lid.
Outside, and for drone shots
- Move cars off the driveway and away from the front of the house.
- Put away garbage and recycling bins, hoses, tools and kids' toys.
- Cut the lawn, sweep the walkways and clear leaves or snow from the entry.
- Uncover the pool and hot tub, and turn on their lights for twilight shots.
- Open patio umbrellas and set out patio cushions.
- Remember the drone sees the whole lot: side yards, the back corner and the roof.
On the day
- Ideally the sellers and pets are out, so the shoot can move room to room without waiting.
- Leave every light on and every blind open as you leave.
- If the shoot includes video with you on camera, plan what you'll wear and a few points you want to say about the home.
Choosing what to book for the listing? Read listing photos, video or a 3D tour: what does your listing need?
Quick answers.
How do I get a home ready for listing photos?
Pixel Pro recommends three things above everything else for a Kelowna listing shoot: clear every countertop and surface, turn on every light and open every blind, and move cars, bins and hoses out of sight. The checklist on this page covers the rest, room by room.
Should the sellers be home during the shoot?
It is easier if they are not. An empty home means nobody has to move from room to room ahead of the camera, and pets are out of the frame. If they are home, ask them to wait outside or in a room that has already been shot.
Should the TVs be on or off?
Off. A black screen reads cleaner in photos and video than a picture that looks blurry or dated in the shot.
Do I need to stage the home?
Not necessarily. A tidy, decluttered home with the lights on photographs well. Staging helps most in empty or very personal spaces, but clearing surfaces does more than adding decor.
What should be done outside before drone and exterior shots?
Move cars off the driveway and away from the front of the house, put bins and hoses away, cut the lawn, and uncover the pool or hot tub. The drone sees the whole lot, including the side yards and the roof.