Property Blotter

Curb appeal isn’t a one-time project, it shifts with the calendar. A home that looks inviting in June can look neglected by November if nothing changes with it, and buyers touring homes in January are picturing a very different yard than the one in front of them in July. For sellers across the country, but especially those in regions with real seasonal swings, knowing what to adjust throughout the year can keep a listing looking its best no matter when it hits the market.

Spring

Spring is when curb appeal work pays off the most, since it’s historically one of the busiest seasons for home sales. After winter, lawns need raking, dead patches need reseeding, and flower beds need a fresh layer of mulch to look intentional rather than overgrown. It’s also the season to pressure wash siding, walkways, and driveways to remove the grime that builds up over winter, and to check gutters and downspouts for debris before spring rains arrive.

A few pots of seasonal flowers near the entryway or window boxes can add color without much cost, and it’s worth inspecting exterior paint and trim for any damage winter weather may have caused.

Summer

By summer, the priority shifts to upkeep and heat management. Lawns need regular mowing and watering to stay green, and any early-planted flowers may need deadheading to keep blooming. Buyers touring in summer heat also notice shade and comfort, so trimming trees to let in natural light while preserving shaded areas on a porch or patio can make outdoor spaces feel more usable.

It’s also a good time to touch up any exterior caulking or paint, since warm, dry weather is ideal for those repairs. Outdoor furniture, if any is staged, should look clean and current rather than faded from the previous summer.

Fall

Fall curb appeal is about managing the visual clutter that comes with changing leaves. Regular leaf removal from the lawn, gutters, and walkways keeps things looking tidy rather than abandoned, and it’s worth aerating and overseeding the lawn to keep it looking full through the following spring.

Seasonal touches like a few tasteful pumpkins or mums at the entryway can add warmth without looking cluttered, but sellers should be careful not to over-decorate for the season, since it can distract from the home itself or date the photos if the listing runs long. Fall is also a smart time to have gutters cleaned and inspected before winter weather arrives.

Winter

Winter is the toughest season for curb appeal, especially in colder climates where snow and bare landscaping can make a home feel stark. Keeping walkways and driveways shoveled and salted isn’t just about safety, it’s often the first thing a buyer notices when pulling up. Exterior lighting becomes more important as days get shorter, so making sure porch lights and any path lighting are working can make a home feel warm and welcoming during evening showings.

Simple, tasteful winter greenery like a wreath or a few potted evergreens can soften an otherwise bare entryway without leaning too heavily into holiday decor, which can make a home feel less neutral to buyers who don’t celebrate the same holidays.

Year-Round Basics

A few things matter no matter the season. Keeping the lawn and beds edged, the exterior free of cobwebs and debris, and the front door and hardware clean and in good repair all contribute to a consistent first impression. Sellers listing during their region’s off-season for outdoor beauty shouldn’t feel discouraged — a well-maintained, appropriately dressed home in January can still stand out, especially against neighbors who haven’t put in the same effort.

Curb appeal isn’t something to check off once before listing photos are taken. The sellers who benefit most are the ones who keep adjusting as the seasons change, especially if a home sits on the market longer than expected. A little seasonal awareness goes a long way toward making sure a home looks its best whenever a buyer happens to pull into the driveway.

If you’re looking for tips on how you can improve your home’s curb appeal and stand out to buyers, I’m happy to provide some suggestions!

Last week Lake Oswego had steady movement with 16 properties that entered the market, 14 moving to Pending status and 19 that Closed/Sold. We’re noticing that a lot of homes are reducing price, and the ones entering the market priced attractively are selling instantly it seems. So, there is demand…people are just being very picky on price. Right now there are 306 homes available ranging from $165,000 to $6,680,000.

Here is the breakdown:

NEW Sept 21-27, 2026

PENDING Sept 21-27, 2026

CLOSED/SOLD Sept 21-27, 2026

Criteria: Homes in the 97034 and 97035 zip code, listed, pending or sold between the dates listed above as reported by the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS). DETACHD refers to Single Family Detached Residence, MFG refers to manufactured housing, and ATTACHD refers to single-family residences with some portion of the structure attached to another property, but not constituting CONDO ownership. DOM stands for days on market, or the number of days from when the listing became active and when it received an acceptable offer, with CDOM standing for “cumulative days on market” accounting for “refreshed” listings (***We’ve used “Days” in each category for ease of understanding).

I don’t like to say how many years I’ve been helping people change their lives thru buying or selling a home. One reason is that it is annoying, and another is that it makes me sound old! So I won’t. But I remember the first time the absence of staging became something other than just an element of a Listing, and actually turned into an impediment to sale of a particular home.

The home in question was beautiful. It was also not furnished, and had a familiar layout…long hallway walking in, opening up into a great room configuration. We see it all the time, and as Realtors, we know how that space can be used. But for some reason, people were having a hard time figuring out where they’d put their dining room table, how they’d lay out a living room space, etc etc. The Seller decided to utilize a Stager to help. For starters, I worked with the Stager and the Seller to encourage a room by room approach to maximize value and minimize expense. The Seller opted for Dining Area, Living Room, minor Kitchen (barstools etc) and Primary Bedroom. Whereas it had been languishing, that house sold instantly after staging was employed.

Since that experience I’ve been accumulating furniture & accessory items to assist my clients, and I keep a small storage unit so that I can help in that way. There are parts of this real estate job that are not fun (Ok, I said it ; ) but staging is not one of those. I really enjoy it and offer it to my clients as part of how I can assist. That said, some Realtors like me can do this, and others cannot. Some have aptitude in this niche and others do not, and most Realtors do not have a huge warehouse of furniture and other items in order to accommodate more than maybe one or two Listings at a time. When more than minor staging is called for, and/or a larger home needs more than a couple rooms fully furnished, that’s where professional Stagers can really be of assistance.

You might ask “Why exactly would I want to put time, effort or money into staging?”. The reasons are many, but I’ll lay out a few.

• Professional photography is a must being as the Invitation online to view your home must be inviting and intriguing enough to cause a Buyer to want to enthusiastically accept. Therefore, the first order of business is creating spaces that are visually as attractive to the eye in photographs as possible.
• We’ve already talked about how some (many) people genuinely lack the ability to see how the spaces in a vacant home might be utilized. This gives a starter outline that really, really helps in visualizing themselves living in your home.
• Many Realtors and Stagers can work with you if your home is not vacant, to do a bit of decluttering or minimizing with furniture etc, so that rooms feel airy & welcoming and so that things are neutralized a bit to allow them to see themselves and their own furniture/style in that space. ***So, before you move everything out, talk with your Realtor about what you might leave behind temporarily while you sell.
• Buyers make an emotional connection with a home when they approach the entry and enter the home. Staging helps with that process. It’s a matter, of addition, subtraction, and shining things up a bit.
• Staging minimizes the negatives and accentuates the positives, enhancing the Buyers’ experience, actually increasing value & subsequently, revenue. Instead of an empty box with maybe some flaw here or there that is the star of the room, you are creating a version of a beautiful living experience that becomes the primary reality during the showing.
• Stats show homes sell significantly faster and for more money than vacant or un-staged homes. Do a quick Google search to confirm this. There are some pretty impressive numbers out there.

I hope this fills in a few gaps if you had questions about why staging is important. Whether you use a professional Stager, or work with a Realtor who has that aptitude & ability to help, it is an important part of preparing your home for sale.