A tip to start:
The main areas (living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom and bath) will usually have more than one photo. Stand at each corner of the room and look over everything. If the room looks busy/crowded, remove items. If you have a lamp on a table blocking your view, remove it. Do you see items sticking out from under beds or couches? Remove it.
Pets:
Because other real estate photographers have gotten bitten by dogs and equipment peed on, please do your best to lock up your dog while I am there. They also risk being in photos and I cannot Photoshop them out.
Pet kennels, toys and food bowls. Hide them.
Cats are sneaky and can appear in photos unexpectedly. Please restrain cats to a room and it can photograph it last.
Hide the cat box, if possible.
Wipe down doors where pets have clawed the door. The dirt will show up in photos.
For all rooms:
Declutter - minimize the stuff in every room. Throw it away, hide it or put it in a box and move it to the garage.
Make sure all light fixtures have light bulbs in them. It’s best if they all are the same temperature, ie, all white or all yellow.
Turn on lights
Turn off ceiling fans
Tilt blinds open
Dust
Hide/lock up guns
Outside the house
Move cars out of driveway and do not park in front of the house.
Hide trash cans. If they can't be hidden move then to the side or back of house.
Tidy up patio areas. Arrange any chairs as if people were going to hang out.
Weed landscaping. Add fresh mulch, if possible.
Remove empty pots or fill them with flowers.
Pick up kids and dog toys.
Swimming Pools & Patio Areas
Declutter
Straighten patio furniture and cushions. Tuck cushion strings under cushions.
Hide pool toys/floaties or put them in a neat pile where they aren't the main focus as you come of the house.
Pool vacuums. Hide them and taken hoses out of pool. Once I arrive they have to stay in the pool as taking them out will leave water all over the patio. This is not good for photos.
Entry - The first room you see when you walk in a door.
Declutter
For lockers or cubbie areas, clean them out or minimize what is in the area.
Living Room & Hearth Rooms
Declutter
Remove tissues and non-decorative items off tables.
Fluff pillows. Remove pillows if too many.
Hide remotes
If room is crowded, remove furniture
Minimize decor around the fireplace and mantle
Hide or neatly place remote controls
Kitchen
Declutter
Remove refrigerator magnets
Remove almost everything off counters
Hide paper towels
Hide trash can
Remove towels hanging from oven and sink area
Empty sinks and put strainers in sink
For an example of a kitchen ready for photos check out my page, Kitchen - Before and After
Dining Room
Declutter
Minimize things on top of table or stage place settings
Master Bedroom
Declutter
Remove all kids items
Remove bed pet steps
Hide charging cables
Neatly place remotes
Bathrooms
Declutter
Remove/hide bathroom products
Neatly fold towels. A tri-fold is best so no edges show.
Remove rugs
Remove accessories if they don’t match.
Remove any soap dispensers if they are not the decorative kind.
Remove product from shower if it can be through glass.
Bedrooms
Declutter
Make beds without wrinkles and prop up pillows
Neatly organize everything
Minimize items on dressers
Office
Declutter
Clean off desks
Minimize books on shelves.
Books can be placed from largest to smallest.
Laundry Room
Declutter
Remove items off washer and dryer.
Organize products neatly on shelves.
Bonus/Kids Playrooms
Declutter and remove as much as possible.
Organize and neatly place all items in the room.
Closets
For very large walk in closets tidy them up. Big closets are a selling point so its great if they can be photographed.
Miscellaneous
Dirty wood floors do photograph dirty. Use a dust mop to quickly get up dirt.
Generally dirt and blemishes are not very noticeable on walls but for really dirty areas wipe down or use a Magic Eraser to clean them up.
Clean extremely dirty windows. Smudges show up in photos.
Area rugs, small rugs and welcome mats. If you have beautiful flooring, remove rugs to show off the flooring.