When it comes to selling your home, first impressions matter—and nothing captures a potential buyer’s attention like stunning listing photos. However, a common area many homeowners overlook is the swimming pool. If you live in New England and are thinking about listing your home in the fall or winter, it’s essential to capture your pool and backyard in their full summer glory now, even if you’re months away from putting your house on the market.
No matter what time of year you list your home, taking pool photos in the summer is a strategic move that can enhance your listing photos, increase your home value, and give you a major leg up when marketing your home later.
Pools Add Value—But Only If Buyers Can See Them
A swimming pool can be a major selling point for a home. It represents luxury, relaxation, and lifestyle—all things buyers may find attractive about a potential property. But if your pool is covered, drained, or surrounded by bare trees and dead grass, it’s much more difficult for buyers to see its value.
Listing photos are often the first thing a buyer sees, and the higher quality the photos, the more exposure your listing will get. Ultimately, that means you can sell for more money! If you wait to take listing photos until after your pool is closed for the year, you might miss the opportunity to highlight one of your home’s desirable features.
Why Seasonal Timing Matters in New England
In New England, summer is short, and pool season often ends abruptly by early fall. Homeowners close their pools by mid-to-late September to avoid early freezes, which means that waiting until you’re ready to list in October, November, or even early spring can mean losing your chance to capture top-notch pool photos.
No matter how talented they are, photographers can’t create summer vibes in December, and a covered pool won’t do your property justice. If you want to maximize the appeal of your home when it hits the market, you need to capture the best version of it now—while the sun is shining, and the pool is open and inviting!
Summer Photos = Year-Round Marketing Advantage for your Home
Having summer pool photos in your back pocket means you’ll be prepared to list whenever you’re ready. Whether that’s late fall, the dead of winter, or early spring, your listing will stand out with vibrant, sunny visuals that showcase the home’s best features.
Motivated buyers will often browse for homes year-round—even during the slower months—and when they’re scrolling through photo after photo of snow-covered yards and gray skies, a listing with bright, stunning summer images is very likely to catch their eye.
Think of this scenario. If two similar homes go on the market in January, one with a snowy photo of a backyard with a lump under a blue tarp, and the other with an image of a sparkling pool, patio furniture, and green trees….which one do you think will get more views?
Be Ready! 3 Tips to Plan for Summer Photos
The good news is, getting ahead of the game is simple—and you can start here!
- Schedule your photographer early: Don’t wait until the last week of summer. Book a professional when your pool and landscaping are looking their best. If you are unsure of where to find a real estate photographer, chat with your trusted REALTOR®, and they can give you recommendations.
- Stage your outdoor space: This doesn’t mean you have to embark on a huge landscaping project. Things as simple as cleaning the pool, arranging outdoor seating, and setting out some colorful towels or accessories can help make your outdoor space look pristine and lively.
- Store the photos for later use: Even if you don’t plan to list for several months, these photos can be saved for later and added to any marketing materials when your home eventually goes on the market! At Lamacchia Realty, we regularly help clients prepare their homes for success months in advance. Our experienced team can connect you with trusted photographers and guide you through the timing and presentation process to ensure you’re ready whenever you choose to sell.
Take Advantage of the Season!
Timing matters when it comes to marketing your home, especially in New England where the seasons change so quickly. By taking advantage of the summer months to take photos of your sparkling pool and lush yard, you’re putting your best foot forward, no matter when you plan to list! Don’t wait until your pool is closed and your yard is bare. Capture the beauty of your home now and maximize your selling power later.
Whether you’re thinking of listing your home in a few months or next year, I am here to guide you to your success. As an experienced REALTOR®, I understand how to market your home effectively in every season—and it all starts with the right preparation.