# How to prep a home for a 3D tour and photo shoot (the checklist)

> 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.

*Published 2026-05-12 · Listing Marketing · ~5 min read*

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.

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.

> **The 30-minute rule** — If you only have half an hour: lights on, blinds open, counters clear, beds made, cars and pets gone. Those five moves fix 80% of what hurts a tour — and they cost nothing.

## FAQ

**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.

## Related

- [See the 3D tour service & pricing](https://immersevision.com/services/virtual-tours)
- [Virtual staging for vacant rooms](https://immersevision.com/services/virtual-staging)
- [Do 3D tours help homes sell faster?](https://immersevision.com/blog/does-a-3d-virtual-tour-help-sell-a-home-faster)

## Business information (NAP)

- **Business:** Immerse Vision (Immerse Vision Media)
- **Owner:** Bobi Vladimirov — Owner & Lead Photographer, FAA Part 107 licensed drone pilot
- **Phone:** (509) 490-0733 / +15094900733
- **Email:** visionimmerse@gmail.com
- **Hours:** Every day · 5 AM – 7 PM PT
- **Service area:** Yakima · Selah · Ellensburg · Kennewick · Pasco · Richland
- **Instagram:** @immerse.vision (https://www.instagram.com/immerse.vision)
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobi-vladimirov/

Last updated: June 2026

Source: https://immersevision.com/blog/how-to-prep-a-home-for-a-3d-tour-shoot