Winter isn't "officially" here for another week, but why not get a head start on making that first impression? So, how do you make a home look inviting in a photograph when the ground is frozen, the tree limbs are bare, and the sky is overcast? REALTOR Mag gives some tips for staging the outside of your home in the dead of winter.
1. Follow the sun.
Capture the home’s exterior when the sun is lighting the front of the house, usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., suggests Tony Calarco, owner of Jump Visual, a real estate photography company. You can use mobile apps—Sun Seeker (iPhone), Focalware (iPhone), or The Photographers Ephemeris (iPhone, Android, or desktops)—to tell you the sun’s direction by time of day.
2. Add some color.
Add hearty potted plants such as mums, poinsettias, or ornamental cabbages around the front entrance.
3. Tidy up the landscaping.
Even in the colder months, home owners need to make sure the lawn is well-manicured. Make sure to put away hoses and seasonal items and to remove fallen leaves. Pay careful attention to the front porch. too.
4. Use snow to your advantage.
If your area gets snow, the best time to capture a home in the winter is following a fresh snow. Be sure to have walkways and driveways cleared so that the photograph leads the eye to the home’s front door.
(side note - make sure you get new photos taken of the exterior once the snow melts so the listing doesn't look dated.)
Have you thought about selling your home this season but decided to put it off until the spring? Winter is actually a great time to sell! Email us at concierge@lizmoore.com, or click below, and we can prepare a complimentary analysis of market value for you – you just may be pleasantly surprised.
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