Your Listing Photos Shouldn't Have an Expiration Date

If your listing photos feature a twelve-foot skeleton and buyers are currently shopping for Easter candy, we might need to talk.

Holiday decorations can make a home feel warm, festive, and full of personality. But in real estate photos, they also do something less helpful: put a date stamp on your listing.

The jack-o'-lantern on the porch. The Christmas tree in the living room. The inflatable bunny standing guard by the driveway.

They can all leave buyers wondering: How long has this house been for sale?

And once that question pops up, others tend to follow. Is something wrong with it? Is it overpriced? Would the seller take less?

None of those assumptions necessarily reflects the property. Sometimes, the photos simply need a refresh. But buyers form impressions quickly, and your marketing should give them reasons to look closer.

Celebrate the Holiday. Keep the Photos Timeless.

You don't have to cancel Christmas because you're selling your house. You also don't have to explain to your kids that the Easter Bunny has been asked to respect your marketing strategy.

When possible, take listing photos before the decorations go up. If your home is already decorated, temporarily move the most obvious seasonal pieces out of the frame.

And if your listing carries into another season, take a fresh look at the photography. Snow-covered yards, bare trees, and holiday displays can make even a beautiful home's marketing feel outdated.

Sometimes the Marketing Needs Attention, Too.

When a home isn't selling, price deserves a serious look. So do presentation, photos, showing access, and the way the property is being positioned.

Fresh photography won't fix every problem. But it can help buyers see the home as it looks today — and give them a reason to take another look.

Selling a home in Hanover, York County, or Adams County? Let's make sure your marketing is working as hard as it should.

Jeff Garber | RE/MAX Quality Service, Inc.
Expect More.