What we tell every seller before photo day.
Billy & Stacy Thoman · Compass · Coachella Valley
Your listing photos are the moment most buyers meet your home. They scroll fast, they decide fast, and the homes that get the click are the ones that look effortless on camera.
With more than 50 combined years and over 4,000 homes sold across the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, and Indio, we have watched the same handful of small prep decisions make the biggest difference between a listing that stops the scroll and one that scrolls past.
Here is the exact guide we send every one of our sellers the week before we shoot. It works for a golf course estate, a Trilogy townhome, or a mid-century in the cove. Save it, share it, or come back to it when you are ready to list.
And if you are on the buying side, read it as a decoder. Once you know what sellers are told to do before a shoot, you start seeing listing photos differently: which rooms were edited down, which angles were chosen, what a wide lens quietly flatters. It makes you a sharper buyer before you ever book a tour.
Watch the short version
The short version, if you would rather watch than read.
Outdoor space is often the headline of a desert home.
The pool, the patio, the mountain views, this is what buyers come to the desert for. Most desert homes already look beautiful outside, so photo day prep is really about a few simple touches to make sure the camera catches every detail.
- □ Pool surface skimmed clear, spa running so the water features are visible
- □ Patio washed down so the stone reads clean and bright
- □ Patio windows and sliders cleaned inside and out (the camera looks through them to the view)
- □ Umbrella opened, lounge chair cushions plumped and arranged
- □ Hoses coiled and out of view
- □ Time the shoot around the gardener and pool cleaner so there is no overlap
A twilight shot done right. The water features lit up, the fire bowls glowing, the desert sky doing its thing. This is the kind of frame that stops buyers mid-scroll. Photo at La Quinta Country Club.Edit back the kitchen to let the architecture do the work.
A kitchen photographs best when the counters are nearly bare. The cabinetry, the stone, and the finishes all get to be the star.
- □ Countertops cleared of small appliances, including coffee makers, toasters, blenders, and knife blocks
- □ Soap dispensers, dish soap, towels, and sponges put away
- □ Refrigerator front completely bare (no magnets, art, calendars, or lists)
- □ Tissue boxes and paper towels hidden
- □ Trash can moved out of sight
- □ A bowl of citrus or a small floral arrangement on the island is a beautiful finishing touch
Open every shade and pull the view straight in.
After the pool, the great room is what most buyers will keep coming back to. We want it open, light-filled, and uncluttered, with a clean sightline through to the patio and the view.
- □ Furniture arranged to show the room at its best
- □ All window coverings fully open
- □ Coffee tables held to one tray and one small object
- □ Pillows arranged neatly, throw blankets folded or removed
- □ Remote controls, charging cords, and smart speakers tucked away
- □ Area rugs lifted where safe (they visually chop up the floors on a wide-angle lens)
- □ Personal photos and items that pull focus tucked away where possible
The den should read as a fully realized room.
Buyers want to instantly understand what a den can do for them: office, media room, extra guest space. Clear purpose photographs beautifully and tells that story without anyone having to ask.
- □ Furniture arranged with clear purpose (sofa or desk, chair, lamp, one piece of art)
- □ Surfaces cleared of everyday clutter
- □ Personal items and paperwork tucked away
- □ Throw pillows arranged neatly, blankets folded or removed
Bedrooms photograph best when they feel quiet and restful.
Bedrooms feel their best on camera when they read as calm and restful. Simple linens, cleared surfaces, and a small touch of greenery are usually all it takes to make the space feel like a retreat.
- □ Beds made hotel-style with pillows arranged and duvets smoothed to the foot
- □ Nightstands cleared of charging cables, papers, prescription bottles, and personal items
- □ Dressers held to one or two intentional pieces on top
- □ Clothes and personal belongings put away
- □ Family photos tucked away where possible
- □ A small plant or simple greenery on the nightstand or dresser
Vanities photograph beautifully when they feel spa-clean.
For photography day, surfaces should be hotel-clean.
- □ Countertops cleared of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, lotions, razors, and personal products. Toilet brushes and holders, tank sprays, air fresheners, and any used towels put away
- □ All clutter put away inside drawers or cabinets
- □ Fresh towels displayed
- □ Mirrors cleaned
- □ Toilet seats and lids closed in every bathroom
- □ Shower curtains arranged either fully open or fully closed
- □ One candle or one small plant per vanity is plenty
Light the home from the inside out.
About thirty minutes before the photographer arrives, the home should be glowing. Matching ambient daylight with interior warmth is what gives the photos that editorial feel rather than standard MLS.
- □ Every interior light and lamp turned on, including under-cabinet, vent hood, and closet lights
- □ Burnt-out bulbs replaced ahead of time (warm white throughout for consistency)
- □ All window coverings fully open
- □ Ceiling fans turned off
- □ Wall hangings straightened
- □ Carpets and floors as clean as possible (skip vacuuming and dusting the morning of, so there are no fresh tracks or streaks)
A few extra notes.
Small things that make a real difference.
Pets
Best contained for the duration of the shoot. We adore them, but the camera, lighting equipment, and movement can be stressful on them, and it keeps them from wandering into frames.
Evening or twilight shoots
If we add one, exterior lighting needs to be fully functional. That includes landscape lighting, sconces, and especially pool and spa lights, so worth testing and replacing bulbs ahead of time.
Depersonalizing
This is the one that takes the most effort, and we know it can feel strange in your own home. But buyers respond most strongly when they can picture themselves in the space, so the more we generalize the rooms, the better the photos perform online.
Thinking about selling in one of these communities
Trilogy at The Polo Club · Trilogy La Quinta · Rancho La Quinta · Toscana Country Club · All desert communities
Photography day, answered.
When should I schedule my home photography for a Coachella Valley listing?
Time the shoot around your gardener and pool cleaner so nothing overlaps in the frame. For desert homes, a twilight shoot can showcase pool lighting, fire features, and the sunset over the Santa Rosas beautifully.
How far in advance should I prepare my home for listing photos?
Start about a week ahead. That gives you time to replace burnt-out bulbs, deep clean, declutter countertops, and have any pool or landscaping service done before shoot day.
Do I need to depersonalize my home for real estate photos?
Yes. Buyers respond most strongly when they can picture themselves in the space. The more generalized the rooms, the better the photos perform online.
Should I close blinds or open them for listing photos?
Open every window covering fully. Natural light gives photos that editorial feel and pulls the outdoor view into the frame.
As a buyer, how can I tell what listing photos are not showing me?
Look for what is missing rather than what is there. Rooms shot from only one corner, no photo of the actual view from the primary bedroom, exteriors only at twilight, or a floor plan that skips a room. None of it means anything is wrong, but it tells you what to ask about and what to look at closely in person.
Should I hire a professional stager before photo day?
In most cases, no. If your home is already furnished and lived in, the checklist above handles the vast majority of what matters. For vacant homes or homes with dated furnishings, we can talk through whether staging makes sense for your specific property.
We would love to walk your home with you.
If you are within six months of selling in the Coachella Valley, an early conversation is the single best thing you can do. We will tell you exactly what to fix, what to skip, and how to time the market for your specific home.
Billy Thoman 760.636.6336 · Stacy Thoman 760.485.1121
Billy Thoman Real Estate | Compass · 74199 El Paseo, Suite 200, Palm Desert, CA 92260
MyHomeInTheDesert.com · DRE #01299750 | #01153744
