Blog / Selling
How to prepare your Houston home for photography and showings
Quick answer. Buyers meet your home online first. What you do in the two weeks before the photographer arrives sets your price.
By Michael O'Neal, Broker and REALTOR®, Keller Williams Realty Northeast
Published October 11, 2026
Start with what a buyer will notice in ten seconds
Stand at the curb, then at the front door, then in the main living area. Whatever your eye goes to first is what the camera will find: an overgrown bed, a tired front door, a dark entry. Fix those before anything else.
Repair before you decorate
Small defects read as deferred maintenance. Replace burned-out bulbs with matching color temperature, fix dripping faucets, patch and touch up walls, re-caulk tubs, and make every door and window open the way it should. In our climate, service the air conditioning and replace the filter. Buyers and inspectors both check it.
Clear surfaces and edit furniture
Photos make rooms look more crowded than they are. Clear kitchen and bathroom counters almost completely. Remove extra chairs, small rugs and anything blocking a walkway or window. Closets and pantries get photographed and opened, so thin them out too.
Let in the light
Open every blind, clean the windows and trim anything outside that shades them. Photography is scheduled around the light on your home, and twilight exteriors can be worth adding for homes with strong curb appeal or outdoor living.
Be honest about water
Houston buyers ask about flooding and drainage. Gather what you have: your seller disclosure details, any elevation certificate, insurance history and records of drainage work. Clear answers build trust and keep a contract together.
Make showings easy
The homes that sell fastest are the easiest to see. Keep the house show-ready, leave during showings, secure pets and valuables, and set the thermostat for comfort. I handle the scheduling and the feedback so you know what buyers are saying.
Thinking about selling? I will walk your home with you and tell you what is worth doing and what is not.
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