The official first day of winter is just a week and a half away – but with the weather most of the country has been having, winter is really already here! This tends to be a slow season for our industry, but there are still listings to be had. After all, not everyone can wait until summer to move.
This is a season with unique staging challenges, however, so I thought I'd share some tips for prepping winter listings for photo and video shoots. These are gleaned from our expert Creative Director and certified artists, who together shoot almost 150 homes each week.
Clear a path. We shoot exteriors year-round, even when it's cold or there's snow on the ground. If you're getting ready to list a snow-wrapped home, make sure the homeowners clear a path around the house (especially to the door) and sweep snow away from attractive exterior features. This will make it easier for your photographer or videographer to access all sides of the home, film an appealing approach, and capture any architectural or landscaping elements that might appeal to buyers. Remember: even in winter, people look for curb appeal!
Turn on the lights. Even if you live in an area with near-perpetual sunshine (we're all looking at you, Miami and L.A.), winter light is just weaker. Photographers usually prefer to have window coverings closed during shoots, but check with yours to see if opening them will be helpful at this time of year. At the very least, plan to turn on some extra lights in the house. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, too. If clouds are on the way, HouseLens allows you to reschedule at no cost up to an hour before your appointment.
Keep the decorations packed. I know it's not a tip your sellers want to hear, but homes show best in photos and video when they're not decorated for the holidays. Holiday decorations are beautiful, sure, but they clutter a room, hide appealing architectural features, and date a listing. Especially since homes tend to sell more slowly at this time of year, the last thing you want is an obvious visual cue to how long a listing has been on the market.
Make it cozy. Especially if you're in a colder part of the country (think the Northeast, Midwest, or Plains), a cozy home is going to have more buyer appeal at this time of year. So turn up the thermostat a couple of degrees, put out just a few cozy items like soft throws (but don't clutter things up), and simmer a pot of cider on the stove or burn a seasonal candle. If the home has a fireplace, make sure it's clean and in good working order, and stack a few attractive logs in the grate—white-barked birch is particularly appealing. If you're feeling really ambitious, consider turning on the fire for any open houses or for your photo shoot.
Do you have any tips for staging winter listings? Share them in the comments!
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