How to Prepare an Apartment for Photography and Sale: Where to Temporarily Store Your Belongings?
When selling an apartment, its condition is not the only thing that matters – so does how it looks in photographs. Potential buyers often form their first impression of a property based on the photos they see. Even a spacious and cosy apartment can look smaller in pictures if it contains too much furniture, boxes, decorations, or personal belongings. That is why, before taking photographs, it is worth spending some time not only tidying up but also clearing out the space. Let’s take a closer look.
Why Should You Clear Out the Space Before Taking Photos?
The main goal is to present the property as it is and allow potential buyers to easily imagine themselves living there. When there are fewer belongings in the rooms, the layout, floors, walls, windows, and natural light are easier to see. A tidy space also looks visually larger.
There is no need to remove absolutely everything from your home. Instead, consider which items currently serve a practical purpose and which are simply taking up space. For example, you might temporarily remove an extra armchair, some decorations, or piles of books from the living room, while clearing small appliances from the kitchen countertops. In the bedroom, it is a good idea to put away clothes, boxes, and other belongings that make the room look cluttered.
What Should You Temporarily Remove from the Apartment?
When preparing for photography, walk through each room and try to look at it through the eyes of a potential buyer. What catches your attention first? Is there enough free space in the room? Is its purpose immediately clear?
In the living room, consider reducing the number of small decorations, hiding cables, putting away children’s toys and unnecessary items from the coffee table, and, if necessary, removing extra pieces of furniture.
In the bedroom, it may be useful to reduce the amount of clothing on display, organise the wardrobes, and remove boxes and items stored under the bed. A neatly made bed can also make the room look more orderly.
In the kitchen, the more free countertop space there is, the better. Small appliances, dishes, food packaging, and other everyday items can be placed inside cupboards to reduce visual clutter in photographs.
In the hallway, reduce the number of shoes and outerwear on display; on the balcony, remove boxes, seasonal items, sports equipment, and other rarely used belongings.
But this raises a practical question: where should you put all these things?
Where Should You Store Your Belongings While the Apartment Is for Sale?
If you only have a few items, you can move them to another room in your home. However, when selling a property, this does not always solve the problem – belongings hidden in one room may simply end up cluttering another. Potential buyers may also want to view the entire apartment, including wardrobes, storage areas, or the balcony.
Another option is to ask friends or relatives for help and temporarily store your belongings in their garage, basement, or another available space. However, this solution depends on how many items you have and how long you need to store them.
When you are looking for a convenient temporary solution, you can consider renting a storage unit. This can be a practical option not only when moving or renovating, but also when you need to quickly clear your home before photographing and selling it.
SPACE24 is a self-storage facility in Vilnius where you can store furniture, household appliances, clothing, sports equipment, documents, artwork, and other personal belongings. This means you do not have to throw things away or urgently find someone to take them – instead, you can simply move them out of your living space temporarily.
How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Size?
The size of the storage unit should depend on how many belongings you plan to store. For some people, a small space for a few boxes and smaller items will be enough, while others may need more room for furniture, household appliances, or sports equipment. This is where the SPACE24 size calculator can be helpful. By considering which items you want to store, it becomes easier to estimate how much space you will need. If you need help choosing, you can always contact SPACE24 personnel. This can be particularly useful when preparing a property for sale, when you want to clear your home but are not yet sure how long your belongings will need to be stored.
Don’t Forget the Small Details Before the Photoshoot
Once the main items have been removed, it is worth attending to the final preparations. Clean the surfaces, tidy up textiles, mop the floors, and hide visible cables. If possible, open the curtains and blinds to let as much natural light into the rooms as possible.
It is also worth remembering areas that are sometimes overlooked – the balcony, hallway, bathroom, or home office. If the entire property is being photographed, every space contributes to the overall impression.
The most important thing is that the home should not look unnaturally “empty”. The goal is not to create a sterile room, but to present a tidy, well-maintained, and spacious property where potential buyers can imagine themselves living.
A Tidy Home Makes Preparing for Sale Easier
Taking photographs of a property is one of those stages where a few practical decisions can make a noticeable difference to the overall appearance. Fewer belongings mean more visible space, a clearer layout, and less visual clutter. And if you have accumulated a lot of belongings, you do not necessarily have to get rid of them simply because your home is currently on the market.
Temporarily moving your belongings to a storage facility allows you to clear the property while keeping things you may still need in the future. If you are looking for a place to store furniture, boxes, sports equipment, or other belongings, you can contact SPACE24 to discuss the right storage unit size and available storage options.