Date Archives: December 30th, 2019

When you're selling your home, photographs play a large part in attracting potential buyers. Winter can be a difficult time to take appealing photos as everything can look darker and drearier. Instead of colorful spring flowers, you may have piles of snow in your yard.

Our agents have experience selling homes in the winter and suggest the following tips for doing winter listing photography right:

• Use winter decorations wisely
  Winter decorations can brighten up the inside and outside of your home for photographs. Keep things understated and attractive, since potential buyers will want to be able to imagine themselves in your home. Don't have too much personal décor inside, and tone things down a bit outside. A wreath on the door, garland on the mantle, and twinkling clear lights on the roof or shrubbery can add festive yet tasteful touches. Think Martha Stewart, not Clark Griswold!
  
  
• Prevent snow build-up
  Keep your walkways, driveway, porch, and deck clear of snow. Instead of just shoveling it onto your lawn, cart it away in a wheelbarrow. Piles of snow not only don't photograph well, but they also pose a hazard to people who come to look at your home. Gutters should be cleared of icicles so they can't cause damage, and you may also need to salt down areas that become icy.
  
  
• Spruce up your home's exterior
  Bare trees and bushes will leave the exterior of your home more exposed than it is in the springtime. Use a pressure washer or hire a professional to thoroughly clean your home's exterior, including the windows. Depending on the weather, this may need to be done periodically so your house stays looking its best. And if your home's exterior has faded or chipped paint, arrange to have a fresh coat applied.
  
  
• Make your front porch look inviting
  Your front porch will show up prominently in outdoor photos of your home, so it's worth your time and effort to make it look inviting. The porch can also be a good spot to introduce some color if your winter landscaping is lacking it. Refresh the paint on your door and porch while adding touches like new house numbers, a door handle, and a pretty doormat. You should also install new lighting. Finally, choose some colorful planters and fill them with plants that add additional winter colors, such as winterberry holly. This shrub puts on an abundant and showy winter display of brightly colored berries.
  
  
• Let the sunshine in
  Winter homes can look dark and gloomy, so open the blinds and draperies to let natural light inside. Your home will look brighter, and photos also usually look better if they're taken in natural light. If you have a fireplace, turn it on while your photos are being taken and when you have an open house or showing. This can create a warm atmosphere while also providing more light.
  
  
• Calm the clutter
  Clutter distracts potential buyers from seeing your home's positive attributes and gets in the way of them seeing themselves in your home. Purge distracting items that make your house look cluttered, even if you have to temporarily rent a storage facility to do so. Otherwise, photos will mask your home's positive attributes and make it look stuffed and overcrowded.

Contact us to learn more about how you can make sure your winter listing photography is done right. We know what buyers are looking for in Long Island homes and can advise you on any changes you can make to show your home off to its best advantage.