The Importance of a Decluttered Property Photo [checklist included]

Why do tidy or decluttered photos matter?

Your photos reflect your brand

Every listing you promote is a reflection of your agency. If your property photos look messy, dark, or busy, it doesn’t just hurt the appeal of that one home, it chips away at your overall brand perception.

High-quality, well-composed, and tidy images send a clear message: this agent takes pride in their work and goes the extra mile to present properties in the best possible light.

Read more about Building Your Brand

Vendors want to see their property taken seriously

Vendors invest a lot emotionally and financially into selling their home. When they choose an agent, they’re trusting you to market it with care. If the photos on their listing are full of personal clutter, overflowing bins, or unmade beds, it can feel like their property isn’t being taken seriously.

On the flip side, when they see clean, professional images that highlight their home’s best features, it builds trust and reinforces that they’ve made the right choice in agent.

Clutter distracts buyers from what really matters

Clutter in photos makes it harder for potential buyers to picture themselves living in the space. Instead of imagining how their furniture would fit or how bright the living room is, they’re distracted by the pile of shoes at the door or the fridge covered in magnets.

By tidying and staging a space, even in small ways, and capturing clean, clear photos, you’re helping buyers focus on what matters: the property itself.

Stand out on portals and social media

In a crowded online market, every scroll counts. When a buyer is flicking through Rightmove, Zoopla, or Instagram, it’s the clean, visually appealing properties that grab attention. You have seconds to stop the scroll and tidy, well-lit imagery is often the difference between a click-through or a scroll-past.

Perception impacts the result

First impressions and perception on the value of a property starts with the first time a viewer sees a listing. And a negative impression or perception can lead to lower offers.

Prepping for the shoot

The last thing you or your photographer wants to do is tidy up a house in order to take photos. Even the best photography will look bad when shoes are lining the hallway, washing hasn’t been put away or the kids toys are everywhere.  That’s why it’s worth taking a few minutes to guide your vendors or landlords on how to get their property photo-ready.

Read more about Property Photography Mistakes and how not to commit them. 

Clean up checklist

The best results come when sellers, landlords or tenant know exactly what to tidy, and that’s where a simple checklist can make a big difference.

To save time, here is a ready-to-send WhatsApp message you can copy, paste and send to your client with a downloadable checklist so they can be ready for the shoot!

Hi [Your Vendor’s Name],

Ahead of your property photos, here’s a quick note to help your home look its best. A tidy space really helps attract more buyers and the best price.

I’ve attached a simple checklist for you to refer to; it covers everything to tick off before the shoot. A few small tweaks can make a big difference!

Let me know if you have any questions, excited to show your home at its best!

What to do with untidy property photos

Sometimes, even after preparing the client there is still clutter. So what do we do? Edit them!

That’s where photo editing comes in; specifically object removal.  removing ALL distractions so the property truly shines. With photo editing software (like PropertyBox 👋), agents can quickly transform their photos into polished, scroll-stopping images that highlight the space, keep vendors/landlords happy and attract quality leads!

Check out a real time before and after created with PropertyBox below.