Selling in Winter? Take Your Exterior Photos Now: Why Mid-July Is the Best Time to Photograph Your Home

On a February morning in Clarkson, even the prettiest street looks tired. The gardens are buried, the trees are bare, and the sky sits somewhere between grey and greyer. If you list your home that month, those are the photos buyers will see. And buyers scrolling listings in winter make decisions in seconds, long before they ever book a showing.

Here is the thing most sellers never think about: you do not have to photograph your home when you sell it. You can photograph it when it looks its best, and right now, midway through July, is exactly that moment. Lawns are green, gardens are full, patios are set up, and the light is warm well into the evening. Even if selling is only a "maybe someday" thought, an hour with your phone this month can be worth real money later.

THE PROBLEM

Why Winter Listings Lose on Photos

When buyers compare two similar homes online, the one with lush summer exterior photos simply reads as more cared for. A snow-covered yard hides your landscaping, your gardens, the condition of your fence and walkway, and all the outdoor living space you paid for. In neighbourhoods like Lorne Park and Mineola, where mature lots are a huge part of the value, winter photos can hide the very thing that justifies your price. The same goes for The Junction: the tree canopy arching over Pacific Avenue or Quebec Avenue is half the charm of those streets, and in January it simply is not there. Listing agents can note "photos taken in summer" on MLS, and buyers respond to it. It is one of the oldest tricks experienced sellers use, and it costs nothing.

THE CHECKLIST

What to Photograph This Month

Walk the property like a buyer would:

◈  Front of the house from the street, straight on and from both angles
◈  The walkway and front entry
◈  The backyard from the deck, and from the back fence looking toward the house
◈  Gardens in bloom, mature trees, the shed, the pool if you have one

And if you live in a condo, this applies just as much to you. Your outdoor space is often the hardest thing to sell in winter and the easiest thing to sell in July. Shoot your balcony or terrace tidy and staged, with the summer view behind it, and take the view itself at golden hour. If you have planters, a balcony garden, or your building has beautiful grounds and gardens, capture those too; they show buyers a lifestyle no floor plan can. In Port Credit or Humber Bay Shores, a west-facing balcony shot over the lake in July is one of the most persuasive photos a condo listing can have.

You do not have to photograph your home when you sell it. You can photograph it when it looks its best.

THE TECHNIQUE

How to Get Photos That Actually Look Good

You do not need a professional for this. Your phone is enough if you follow a few rules. Shoot in the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset, when the light is soft and warm. Keep the camera at chest height and hold it level so the house does not look like it is leaning. Shoot horizontal, not vertical, because that is how MLS and listing sites display photos. Move the cars out of the driveway, roll the bins out of sight, coil the hose, and straighten the patio cushions. Take more photos than you think you need, from more angles than feels necessary. Storage is free and you only get this light once a year.

THE PAYOFF

Then Just Save Them

Put the photos in a folder labelled with the month and year and forget about them. If you list next February, your agent now has summer curb appeal photos to lead with while every competing listing shows snow. If you do not list at all, you have lost an hour. When the time comes, a professional photographer will still shoot the interior fresh, but exteriors are the one thing money cannot fix in January.

Thinking about a move, this winter or any season? We are happy to walk your property with you and point out exactly which shots will matter most when it is time to list.

Book a call with us or get in touch to receive new listings and market updates.

[This post is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Details are believed accurate at time of publication but are subject to change.