How to prep a home for a 3D tour and photo shoot (the checklist)
A room-by-room checklist for getting a listing camera-ready before the 3D tour and photo shoot — what to clear, turn on, and put away so the home photographs at its best.
TL;DR
Prep a home for a 3D tour by decluttering every surface, turning on all lights, opening blinds, hiding personal items and pets, and clearing cars from the driveway. A 3D tour captures everything in view, so anything left out shows up in the scan.
A 3D tour is unforgiving in the best way: it captures everything in the room, 360 degrees, exactly as it is the moment we scan. A stray laundry basket or a sink full of dishes does not get cropped out — it becomes a permanent, walkable part of the tour. Thirty minutes of prep is the highest-return work on the entire shoot. Here is the room-by-room checklist we send every seller.
Whole-home, before we arrive
- Turn on every light in the house — overheads, lamps, under-cabinet, closets. A 3D tour reads dark rooms as gloomy.
- Open all blinds and curtains for natural light and to show the views.
- Replace any burned-out bulbs (and match color temperature where you can).
- Clear all cars from the driveway and directly in front of the home for the exterior and drone shots.
- Put away pets and pet gear (beds, bowls, litter boxes, toys) — and pets themselves during the scan.
- Hide visible cords, chargers, and remotes.
- Set the thermostat to comfortable — the crew is on-site 1–2 hours.
Kitchen
- Clear every countertop — small appliances, dish racks, mail, and magnets off the fridge.
- Empty the sink and run the dishwasher beforehand.
- Hide trash cans, sponges, and dish soap.
- Wipe down stainless steel and glass (a 3D camera sees fingerprints).
Bathrooms
- Clear counters — toothbrushes, products, razors away.
- Close toilet lids, hang fresh towels, remove bath mats and the trash can.
- Take down personal toiletries from the shower.
Living areas and bedrooms
- Make every bed and square up the pillows.
- Declutter surfaces — coffee tables, nightstands, dressers. Aim for one or two decor items, not ten.
- Remove highly personal items: family photos, diplomas, religious or political items (buyers should picture themselves here).
- Tuck away laundry, shoes, and floor clutter.
- Straighten rugs and angle furniture to open up the walking path — a 3D tour is walked, not just viewed.
A note on privacy
Because a 3D tour is fully explorable, remove anything you would not want a stranger to study up close: documents, calendars, prescription labels, and screens showing personal information. Anything reflective — mirrors, TVs, windows — can catch a reflection, so we are mindful of those during capture.
Frequently asked
How long does a 3D tour shoot take on-site?
Typically 60–120 minutes for a small-to-mid home, longer for large estates. Coming in to a prepped home keeps it at the short end and means the crew spends time capturing, not waiting for rooms to be cleared.
Should I stage before the shoot or use virtual staging?
If the home is furnished, prep and shoot as-is. If it is vacant, virtual staging ($39/room) is faster and far cheaper than physical staging — we add furniture to the photos after the shoot, so an empty home still photographs with a vision.
Do I need to be home during the 3D scan?
Someone should provide access and then step out of frame — a 3D tour captures every room, so people in the scan become part of the tour. Many agents use a lockbox and let the crew work independently.
What if the weather is bad for drone shots?
Interior 3D and photos proceed regardless. Drone aerials need acceptable wind and light; if conditions are poor we reschedule just the aerial portion. The Premium Luxury Collection includes a flexible weather reshoot policy.
Can I leave personal photos up?
Best to take them down. Buyers connect with a listing when they can picture themselves living there, and a 3D tour lets them study every wall. Neutral, depersonalized rooms consistently photograph and tour better.
Ready to put a SHOWCASE listing on the market?
Email us the address and the target launch date. We'll send pricing for your size, lock the next available shoot date, and ship the package within 24 hours of the shoot.