Airbnb photo prep checklist: 29 things to check first

Walk it like the camera will

The day before your shoot, walk every room with this list. Really look it over. Your eyes are good, but the lens of the camera is going to capture it all, in high resolution, and what is in those photos will make a big impact on your bookings over time.

None of these are hard to do. They're just easy to miss when you've been staring at the same rooms all week, or month, or year, as you develop, tweak, or totally refresh your properties. Operator crews built this list from the misses they caught most often, so it's a list of what actually goes wrong, not what might.

The 29-point pre-shoot checklist

Textiles

• 1. Two throw pillows on the sofa, one on each bed
• 2. The right pillows are in the right rooms (check them against your plan)
• 3. No wrinkles in curtains, pillows, headboards, rugs or throws
• 4. Pillow inserts are 2" bigger than their covers (18" cover, 20" insert)
• 5. Curtain panels are evenly spaced and hung to plan
• 6. Every tag and sticker is off pillows, rugs and blankets

Supplies

• 7. An alarm clock or USB charging hub in every bedroom
• 8. Kitchenware, bedding and bath sets match the property's max occupancy
• 9. Key hooks by the entry
• 10. Small appliances match. Same color toaster and coffee maker
• 11. The kitchen is set up for someone cooking, and the bathroom for someone showering
• 12. Wi-Fi works, tested on a phone
• 13. Plungers and toilet brushes are in a cabinet, out of the shot

Lighting

• 14. The entry is lit the moment a guest walks in
• 15. Every bulb works and is the right type
• 16. Stickers are off lamps and lamp hardware
• 17. Cords are tucked out of sight and out of walkways

Art

• 18. The clock isn't hung too high
• 19. Art over the sofa isn't too low (8" above the pillows)
• 20. No wall decals or stickers went on paint less than 30 days old (they won't stay put)

Furniture

• 21. Bar stools leave 12" between seat and counter
• 22. The headboard is mounted to plan. Check twice, mount once
• 23. Furniture sits where the plan says
• 24. Every door swings fully open, with no furniture in the way
• 25. Every outdoor space that should have furniture has it
• 26. There's at least one full-length mirror

Clean-up

• 27. All packaging is out of the property
• 28. No smudges on glass, stainless steel or mirrors
• 29. No water spots on cabinets, sinks or counters

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How do you stage each room for listing photos?

Living room

Pull the coffee table within arm's reach of the sofa. Style it with one tray: TV remote and Wi-Fi card in one corner, a small plant in the opposite one, and the tray itself off-center on the table. Drop the TV's power cable straight down and hide the router and cable box inside the media console. Run any cords that cross the room under the rug.

Bedroom

Center the headboard, art and pillows on the bed, which isn't always the center of the wall. Leave about 1" between the bed and each nightstand, and turn lamp shades so the seams face the back. Lay two folded towels on the bed for photos. Set the clock to the right time.

Kitchen

Counters should be clear except for the coffee maker, toaster and maybe one plant to add personality. Hide the appliance cords (as always, everywhere). Hang one wrinkle-free towel over the oven handle. Wipe every stainless steel surface until the streaks are gone.

Bathroom

Close the toilet lid. Every towel rack gets a matching towel. Turn shampoo and soap bottles label side out, all facing the same way and wipe down the bottles. Wipe the mirror last, after everything else is done.

Outdoor

Sweep and hose down patios. Clear out any debris, bricks or old furniture the owner left behind. Angle outdoor chairs toward the best view, with a table centered between them.

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FAQ

How do you prepare an Airbnb for a photo shoot?

Walk every room the day before with a checklist: textiles, supplies, lighting, art heights, furniture placement and clean-up. Fix everything you find before the photographer arrives.

What should you hide before taking listing photos?

Plungers and toilet brushes, visible cords, trash bins, packaging, and every price tag and sticker on pillows, rugs, lamps and frames.

Should you put towels on the bed for Airbnb photos?

Yes. Two folded towels on the bed is a common staging touch for listing photos.

How many throw pillows should an Airbnb have?

Two on the sofa and one on each bed is a clean baseline. Pillow inserts should be 2" bigger than their covers.

How should a coffee table be styled for photos?

One tray with the TV remote and Wi-Fi card in one corner and a small plant in the other, with the coffee table within arm's reach of the sofa.

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