It’s sum…sum…summertime! School’s out and it’s time for pool parties, beach vacations, and backyard barbecues to commence! It’s also a great time to sell a house. May through July home sales are traditionally hot, with homes often selling for more than 10 percent above market value.

In a recent USA article, Bright MLS Chief Economist, Lisa Sturtevant said “While inventory will remain low this year, we should expect to see more sellers who had been on the sidelines list their home for sale this summer and into the fall.”

As the temperatures rise and the sun shines brighter, summer brings with it a unique opportunity to showcase the outdoor areas of properties. Gardens, pools, patios, and balconies become focal points that can captivate potential buyers and highlight the true potential of a home.

The Benefits of Selling in the Summer

One of the biggest benefits to listing a home in the summer is that there are more potential buyers looking for homes which often results in higher sale prices. What drives more potential buyers to the market is that they are often time restricted and highly motivated to find a home before school starts in the fall. And the pleasant weather generally draws people who are out looking more and there’s increased interest in attending open houses. The longer days make it easier for buyers who work during the day to see homes in the evening.

Another key benefit to listing properties in the summer is that many sellers will go on vacation, which could make showing the property easier while they are away without the need for too much cleaning and staging. Just make sure the sellers have the house show-ready before they leave!

How to Heat Up Your Summer Listing

Preparing a home for professional real estate photos is crucial in attracting potential buyers and securing a successful sale. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Boost the Curb Appeal. When selling a home during the summer, it’s extremely important to prepare the exterior of the home. The exterior and curb appeal of a home can give a potential buyer a pretty good idea of what to expect in the interior of the home, so make sure it’s clean, crisp, and attractive. Read more about how to boost property sales with curb appeal. Below are several things to do when preparing the exterior and curb appeal of a home to prepare it for a summer sale.

Touch up any exterior peeling paint
Paint and/or clean up the front door
Mow the lawn and trim bushes and shrubs
Weed and mulch the flower beds
Water the lawn and plants

2. Make necessary repairs. A few examples of common “necessary” repairs include broken windows, peeling or damaged siding, and damaged roofs. One of the quickest ways to scare away potential home buyers is by not addressing these repairs. Having repairs completed prior to listing a home, such as replacing a very old roof with visible damage, will not only result in getting a higher sale price, but also reduce the chances that a buyer will request a lot of repairs be made after a home inspection.

3. Embrace the Natural Lighting. One of the key elements that define the summer season is abundant natural light. Utilizing this natural lighting can enhance the beauty and appeal of outdoor spaces. Plan photoshoots during the golden hour, just after sunrise or before sunset, when the light is soft, warm, and creates a magical ambiance. Buyers are often looking for a light, bright house, so keep those curtains and blinds open so all that sunshine can bathe the home in a summertime glow.

4. Showcase the Potential of Outdoor Spaces. Particularly this time of year, it's essential to highlight the potential and functionality of a home’s outdoor spaces for potential buyers. In many areas of the country, summer is a fairly short season, so many buyers spend as much time outside enjoying the weather as possible during the summer. Many buyers put a premium on a great outdoor living space so highlighting the outdoor space is a great way to impress potential buyers. Here are some tips to help buyers envision themselves spending time relaxing outside:

Focus on specific features like built-in BBQ areas, fire pits, or outdoor seating arrangements that make the space inviting and ideal for entertaining. If the home has an incredible outdoor BBQ or a large concrete patio, make sure it’s staged!

TIP: Your real estate photographer should use a wide-angle lenses to capture the breadth of expansive gardens or large pools, giving viewers a sense of the property's grandeur. Different angles and perspectives can showcase the flow and layout of the outdoor space.

Cool and inviting

While emphasizing the overall atmosphere and potential, it's equally important to capture the finer details that make each outdoor space unique. Consider the following:
Highlight intricate landscaping details, such as well-maintained flower beds, manicured lawns, or charming garden paths.
Showcase outdoor amenities like water features, outdoor lighting, or decorative elements that add character to the space.
Zoom in on textures and materials, such as the grain of wooden decks, the sparkle of pool tiles, or the inviting feel of plush patio furniture.

5. Keep The Home Cool. One of the most important tips for selling a home during the summer is to make sure to keep the home cool, at least while the home is being looked at by potential buyers. If the home is not equipped with a central air conditioning unit, window air conditioners and ceiling/floor fans, as well as keeping lights off and blinds drawn prior to showings, are alternative ways to keep the home cool.

6. Depersonalize & Declutter the Home. A home that has personal effects all over the place, such as family portraits or a report card on the fridge, is distracting when buyers are trying to visualize themselves in a home. Have the sellers evaluate what they actually need to live comfortably while selling the home and move unnecessary items into a storage unit or into the basement or garage.

7. Stage The Home To Reflect the Summer Season. Staging enhances the appearance of a home and can make a positive impact on the selling price of the home. An excellent opportunity when selling a home during the summer is to stage it to reflect the season. Summer staging tips such as placing bright flowers on a dining room table, planting bright flowers in a window box, and having summer scented candles are all relatively simple and cheap, but can make a home stand out!

As you can see, summer presents a golden opportunity to show a property in the best light and showcase the outdoor spaces of properties in all their glory. By harnessing the power of natural lighting, framing shots to emphasize the summer atmosphere, and showcasing the potential of outdoor areas, you can create captivating images that resonate with potential buyers.

Capture The Essence of Summer

In real estate, capturing the essence of summer in property listing photos is essential when selling a property. To do this, it's important to create a warm and inviting outdoor space with lush greenery, colorful flowers, and perhaps a barbecue or outdoor seating area. Incorporating natural light and bright colors into indoor spaces can give the impression of spaciousness and a laid-back summer vibe. The use of proper staging and having quality photos that capture the natural surroundings can make the property appear more attractive and welcoming to potential buyers. Overall, showcasing a home's summer charm through listing photos can be a powerful marketing tool to appeal to buyers' emotions and help close a profitable sale.

Book your next listing photos with OM Media and let our expert team of photographers capture the essence of summer and paint a picture of the lifestyle that awaits within these spaces!

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