REALTOR AI PLAYBOOK · 16
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A seller does not need another document that says “make your home shine.” They need to know what to do, who will do it and which questions to resolve before the photography appointment.
Start with one room. Write three concrete actions: prepare the visible surfaces, identify personal items to put away and confirm anything the photographer needs to know. That is already more useful than a page of motivational advice.
This chapter builds a short photo-preparation checklist, a clear introduction and a delivery message. You can adapt the educational template to your own reviewed process. The editable worksheet below is available for educational use; it is not a booking or a promise of personalized preparation services.
Choose a task the resource can actually finish
“The complete seller guide” is a broad promise. “Prepare questions and visible spaces before listing photography” is a manageable task. A focused checklist helps the seller coordinate the shoot without pretending to cover pricing, repairs, disclosures or every part of selling.
The resource should also state when to use it. This example is for the period after a shoot has been discussed and before the final walkthrough. The actual preparation schedule, access process and responsibilities must be agreed with the professionals involved.
Do not invent a universal deadline. A property with ongoing work, occupied rooms or access restrictions may need a different plan. A useful checklist identifies these questions early.
Before and after: make the instruction observable
Vague: “Make every room look amazing.” Usable: “Walk through each planned room, decide which everyday items should be stored and assign someone to complete the task before the agreed walkthrough.”
Vague: “We will fix everything in editing.” Usable: “Discuss presentation concerns before the shoot. Do not assume editing will remove clutter, correct unfinished work or change the property.”
The improved instructions tell someone what action to take and where to ask for help. They also avoid promising work that has not been included in the service agreement.
The complete two-page checklist
The following pages are original educational artwork. Their full actions are repeated in text below. The bedroom photo comes from Magic Lens's published Palm Bay model-home project; it illustrates a prepared space, not a before-and-after result or a claim that the property is currently for sale.
Page 1 — agree on the plan
- Confirm scope and access. Identify the spaces to photograph, who can provide access and how instructions will be shared through the agreed private channel. Keep access codes out of public content and generic AI prompts.
- Name the priorities. List the property features the media should explain. Separate verified facts from questions that still need checking.
- Identify unfinished tasks. Note cleaning, staging, maintenance or other work that may affect readiness. Agree who is responsible and discuss timing rather than assuming the photographer will complete it.
- Plan for occupants and pets. Coordinate a practical arrangement with the people involved so the shoot can proceed without confusion. Do not make assumptions about access to occupied spaces.
- Flag concerns early. Tell the photographer about restricted areas, ongoing work or other conditions that could affect the planned coverage. Use the appropriate private communication channel.
Leave room beside each item for an owner and a status: ready, in progress or needs discussion. A checkmark without a responsible person can hide unfinished work.
Page 2 — walk through the visible spaces
- Review surfaces and sightlines. Decide which everyday items should be stored so the planned areas can be seen clearly. Keep the presentation truthful to the property.
- Put away personal information. Review mail, paperwork, photographs and screens that may reveal details the occupants do not want in marketing images.
- Prepare the agreed rooms. Complete ordinary tidying and the staging tasks already agreed with the responsible professional. Do not move heavy items or attempt unsafe work for a photograph.
- Review exterior readiness. Discuss vehicles, movable items and the areas included in the shoot. Confirm what can be moved and by whom; do not assume permission.
- Complete a final walkthrough. Check the planned areas, record unresolved questions and communicate changes before coverage begins. Ask rather than assuming an issue can be solved later.
This checklist concerns coordination and visible preparation. It does not replace maintenance advice, an inspection, required disclosures or the photographer's property-specific instructions. Preparing an area for a photograph should not become a way to conceal a material issue.
Use the worksheet, then walk the actual rooms
Download the two-page US Letter worksheet. It contains editable Owner, Status and Pending / next action fields for eight areas. Save a copy before typing, or print it and complete it by hand. The task wording is fixed; use the copyable prompt below if your property needs different tasks.
Download the editable photo-preparation checklist (PDF)
Adapted from the Magic Lens preparation guide. Use the agreed scope and safe access for your own property. The following completed example is fictional, not a record from the photographed home.
Completed example: an occupied home
- Kitchen — clear counters and sink, store dishes, soap and sponges; remove refrigerator papers and straighten stools. Owner: seller. Status: ready. Record: counters cleared and papers stored.
- Bedrooms — make beds, clear nightstands and put away laundry, chargers and personal medications. Owner: seller. Status: in progress. Pending: finish the second bedroom.
- Bathrooms — clear counters and shower products, clean mirrors, lower toilet lids and arrange clean towels. Owner: seller. Status: in progress. Pending: finish the guest bathroom.
- Exterior — coordinate vehicles and bins, store loose hoses and toys, sweep the entry. Owner: listing agent to confirm with seller. Status: needs discussion. Pending: confirm permission and responsibility for moving a vehicle.
- Living and dining — store paperwork and remotes, straighten chairs and pillows, turn screens off. Owner: seller. Status: in progress. Pending: clear the dining table.
- Lighting and windows — check working fixtures, accessible glass and movable coverings. Owner: seller. Status: needs discussion. Pending: identify a covering that cannot move; do not force it.
- People and pets — agree which spaces stay clear and a safe pet area with water. Owner: seller. Status: needs discussion. Pending: confirm that location.
- Scope and access — confirm covered areas and restrictions privately. Owner: listing agent. Status: in progress. Pending: agree the final walkthrough; no appointment time is invented.
Review completion by looking at the actual task, not by treating every checked box as proof. Record unresolved work before the photographer arrives. Do not assume editing, cleaning or additional coverage is included.
A short introduction the seller can understand
Use this checklist to organize the property before listing photography. Start with the planning page, assign the remaining tasks and use the second page for your final walkthrough. If an item does not fit your property, mark it for discussion. Confirm the details with the professionals handling your listing and media appointment.
This introduction explains purpose, sequence and limits. It does not ask the seller to read a sales pitch before reaching the useful information.
A delivery message that matches the resource
Here is the photo-preparation checklist we discussed. Page 1 covers coordination; page 2 covers the walkthrough. Please mark any item that needs clarification so we can address it before the appointment. The checklist is a starting point—our agreed scope and property-specific instructions still apply.
Before sending, actually include the reviewed checklist text or file. Remove “we discussed” if no prior conversation took place. Do not imply a booking exists unless it does. A resource can be useful without fictional familiarity or a fabricated appointment.
If you are offering the checklist publicly, write an invitation that identifies its real purpose: “Preparing for listing photos? Ask for the photo-preparation checklist.” Use that invitation only when the reviewed resource is ready to deliver.
Ask ChatGPT to adapt the checklist
Adapt a seller photo-preparation checklist in American English. Use only this source note and fictional property brief. Return a draft for human review. SOURCE: Magic Lens preparation guide, https://www.magiclensphotomedia.com/post/prepping-your-home-for-real-estate-photos SOURCE ACTIONS: Kitchen: clear counters and sink; store dishes, soap and sponges; remove refrigerator papers and straighten stools. Bedrooms: make beds; clear nightstands; store laundry, chargers and medications. Bathrooms: clear counters and shower products; clean mirrors; lower toilet lids; arrange clean towels. Exterior: coordinate vehicles and bins; store loose hoses and toys; sweep entry. Living/dining: clear paperwork, remotes and everyday items; straighten chairs and pillows; turn screens off. Lighting/windows: check working fixtures and accessible glass; flag coverings that cannot move. People/pets: agree clear spaces and a safe pet area with water. Scope/access: confirm covered areas and restrictions privately. FICTIONAL BRIEF: occupied home with kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, living/dining and exterior in the planned coverage. Seller handles ordinary safe tidying. Listing agent confirms scope and permissions. Kitchen counters and refrigerator papers are done. A vehicle's moving permission and pet location remain unresolved. Other tasks are in progress. No appointment time or labor service is supplied. RETURN: concise checklist with task, owner, status and pending action; a blank copy; a 60-word introduction; a delivery message that links to the checklist rather than claiming an attachment. Use ready / in progress / needs discussion / not applicable. Do not assign unagreed labor, deadlines or appointment times. Do not invent editing promises or included services. Flag unknowns. Do not request access codes, recommend unsafe work or conceal defects. Keep the source link with the draft.
For a real adaptation, supply only the non-sensitive details needed to tailor the resource. For example, you can explain that exterior coverage is included in the agreed plan without providing a client's address, access code or private schedule.
A filled task example
Task: review visible bedroom surfaces. Responsible person: the person agreed in the preparation plan. Status: needs discussion. Question: which personal items should be stored before the shoot? Next action: review the room with the listing professional and confirm the arrangement.
This is a fictional coordination example. The real portfolio photograph shows a staged bedroom arrangement, but it does not establish who prepared that room, how long it took or which services were included.
That distinction matters when you use portfolio material in an educational guide. A photograph can illustrate a visible result without supporting a made-up story about the process behind it.
Two refinements before designing the resource
Review this checklist for vague instructions. Replace words like “perfect,” “beautiful” and “ready” with an observable action or a question to confirm. Keep tasks within the agreed scope.
“Ready” is a conclusion. A good checklist shows how the people involved will decide whether preparation is complete. Clear actions also make it easier to identify which item is blocking the next step.
Audit the draft for promises and assumptions. Flag any sentence that invents a deadline, service inclusion, editing result or appointment. Replace it with an appropriate confirmation step. Keep the resource concise enough to use during a walkthrough.
Do not solve every flagged item by adding a long disclaimer. Often the better correction is a simpler, more accurate instruction. If a detail belongs in a service agreement or a private conversation, keep it there.
Make it readable where it will be used
Review the checklist on a phone as well as at full size. Use short actions, visible spacing and a clear sequence. A small logo and an honest byline are enough; the tool should not become a crowded brochure.
Keep an editable master with the review date and the person responsible for updates. When the process changes, review both the resource and the invitation used to offer it. Do not keep distributing an old version because the design still looks good.
Connect preparation to the actual shoot
A checklist helps organize readiness. A production brief explains what the media needs to show. Use the two together: once the property is prepared, confirm the features and relationships the images should communicate.
Your finished resource
Two pages, one clear task, a short introduction and a matching delivery message. Review the content with the responsible professionals before using it with a real seller.
Next, use RAIP-23 to turn preparation into a production brief, or return to the collection task index.
Connect preparation to the planned photographs
Your checklist helps the seller prepare with a clear purpose. The next step is matching those tasks to the actual shoot: the rooms being covered, the details that matter and the questions to resolve beforehand. A generic checklist cannot make those choices for a specific property.
For a listing in Orlando or Central Florida, explore Magic Lens services and pricing as you define the photography scope. That gives the preparation conversation something concrete to work toward.
