Preparing For Your Boat or RV Photo Session
Once you complete our CMA and have your listing accepted, one of our local representatives will be assigned your listing. The local rep will contact you to arrange a time to come on-site and take photographs and videos of your boat or RV.
Note: If you are located too far away from a local rep, per the CMA we request the seller to send photos of the boat or RV using a cell phone camera. For best results, we ask that all photos be taken in “landscape” format by holding the phone sideways when taking photos.
This page outlines things you can do before we arrive to get the best-looking boat or RV photos.
Clean as Best You Can
It goes without saying, a clean boat or RV sells MUCH faster than one filled with your personal stuff strewn about. During photographs, the camera’s flash can pick up dust and dirt. The cleaner the boat or RV, the quicker it will sell. This is an easy issue to fix.
Use a microfiber rag and some household cleaning products to clean up dust and dirt. Armor-All Protectant works wonders on black plastic surfaces. Storage compartment gaskets should be cleaned and wiped down with a protectant. Engine and storage compartments should appear clean. A little engine cleaner and a good hose down can really make a difference. Same with the generator bay, the wet bay on RVs, the engine compartment on boats, and all storage bays.
The TV screen, windows, and mirrors should be clean to avoid showing any streaks or splashed liquid.
Panels and Cabinets
We do not need to show the insides of panels and cabinets for the Virtual Tour. Those sorts of details should be used in the Photo Gallery on the listing page.
Please remove any trash or personal items, such as toys, towels, papers, etc.
Vacuum carpets if possible. These efforts go a long way to selling your boat or RV.
Slides and Awnings
Extend all slides, decks, and patios. We’ll need to walk around the boat or RV with enough space to take photos.
Turn on ALL available lights. The lighting makes the unit look its very best. Lighting should make the unit look welcoming, comfortable, and warm. Dark photos will poorly represent your boat or RV. If you have special accent lights or colored LED lights, turn them on. It’s a good idea to have electrical shore power connected or on a generator. Running all lights can drain the battery, and you’ll need ample power to close the slides.
Lowering the shades with all lights on produces the best photo results.
Think of Inspection / Survey Time
Eventually, an interesting buyer may want to order and perform an inspection or survey. If your generator bay for example is full of dust and dirt, it doesn’t help justify your price. Keep the boat or RV well-maintained and as clean as possible. Keep all records of any recent service and let us know of any work performed.