Your Yard Is About to Disappear for Five Months

In Saskatoon, the first real snowfall can come any day now, and once it sticks, your yard is hidden until spring. The gardens, the mature trees, the deck you refinished, the grading you fixed in July: all of it goes under a white blanket until April.

That's why right now is the perfect time to grab your phone and take a few photos. It only takes about 15 minutes, and those pictures can save you time, help with future maintenance and make your home look its best if you decide to sell this winter or next year.

Watch: Take These 5 Photos Before the Snow Flies

Why These Photos Matter

• Selling in winter. Buyers touring a home in January can't see the lawn, the flower beds or the patio. Good summer and fall photos let your listing show off the yard even when it's under two feet of snow.
• Spring planning. It's easy to forget where the tulips are or which shrub struggled this year. Photos make spring clean-up and planting much easier.
• Repairs and insurance. If a heavy snow load, ice or a falling branch damages your fence, deck or shed, "before" photos show what it looked like and when.
• Your home's history. Dated photos of upgrades and improvements become part of your home's records, which buyers appreciate.

1. The Yard and Landscaping

Capture your gardens, mature trees, lawn condition and flower beds while they're still visible. Take one wide shot from each corner of the yard, then a few close-ups of anything you're proud of. Mature trees and a healthy lawn are a big part of curb appeal in Saskatoon, and photos taken in good light are worth having on hand.

Still working on the lawn before freeze-up? See our top 5 fall lawn care tips.

2. The Deck and Fence

Document the current condition of your deck, fence and any outdoor structures before snow and ice arrive. Get the deck surface, the stairs and railings, and each side of the fence, including gates and posts. If you've stained, repaired or replaced anything recently, note the date and the product you used.

These photos are especially helpful if winter brings damage, and they give a buyer confidence that the outdoor spaces have been looked after.

3. Foundation and Exterior Grading

Photograph visible drainage features, the ground around your home and any grading you've done. Walk the full perimeter and capture:

• The soil sloping away from the foundation
• Downspouts and where their extensions drain
• Window wells and their covers
• Where your sump pump discharges, if you have one
• Any visible cracks in the foundation, so you can compare next spring

Once the snow is on the ground, none of this can be seen, and in spring it matters a lot. Learn more in our guides to improving your property's grading, protecting your house from rain damage and sump pump best practices.

4. Outdoor Living Spaces

Capture patios, sheds, firepits, gazebos and any other seasonal features you enjoy. These are the spaces buyers picture themselves using on a summer evening, and they're the hardest to imagine in February. If the furniture is still out, take a few "lifestyle" shots with everything set up before you put it away for the season.

5. Garden Beds and Trees

Take photos of your perennials and the health of your trees and berry bushes. If you have any pictures from earlier in the season with everything in full bloom, save those too. Close-ups of each bed and each tree help you track what's thriving, what needs pruning in spring and what might need replacing.

Planning next year's garden? Here are the best and easiest perennials to grow in Saskatoon.

Bonus Tip: Create a Map of Your Yard

Draw a simple map showing where your perennials are, and list the names and types of your trees and berry bushes. It doesn't need to be fancy. A sketch on paper or a marked-up photo from an upstairs window works great.

• Helps with future maintenance and planning, so you don't dig up bulbs or perennials in spring
• Useful when selling your home, because buyers love knowing what will come up in May
• Saves time when working with landscapers, arborists and other contractors

A Few More Things Worth Photographing

While you're out there, take a few extra shots that are easy to forget once winter hits:

• Sprinkler heads and irrigation lines, so you don't hit them with a shovel or aerator. If you haven't already, here's how to blow out your sprinklers.
• Outdoor taps, the A/C unit and the gas meter, so you know where they sit under the snow.
• Your roof, eavestroughs and siding from the ground.
• Property corners and survey pins, if you know where they are.
• The front of your home from across the street, for a great curb appeal photo.

For the rest of your fall to-do list, see getting your property ready for fall.

Tips for Taking Better Photos

• Shoot on a bright, overcast day or in the late afternoon for soft, even light.
• Take a wide shot first, then close-ups. The wide shot shows where everything is.
• Hold your phone horizontally for yard and exterior photos.
• Use the same spots each season so you can compare year to year.
• Back them up. Put them in a dated album or cloud folder, or send them to a dedicated email address for your home.

Keep It All in One Place: Start Your Free Home Records Tracker →

Our free Home Records & Warranty Tracker lets you log upgrades, receipts, maintenance and plantings, then print or export your home record whenever you need it.

Thinking About Selling?

If you're planning to sell this winter or next spring, these photos can make a real difference. Our team can use your best yard and outdoor photos alongside professional listing photos, so buyers see your home at its best no matter the season. Yard condition affects value too. Here are the top 5 things in your yard that hurt resale value.

Map out your next steps with My Selling Plan, read our Saskatoon Home Seller's Guide, or find out what your home could sell for with a free home evaluation.

Questions About Your Home or Yard?

Whether you're getting ready to sell or just want to look after the home you love, we're happy to help. Talk to Clayton and Jessica, your trusted REALTORS®: call or text Jessica at 306.241.6029 or Clayton at 306.341.4401.

— Clayton McNally & Jessica Hamel, Trusted Realty, Powered by RE/MAX Saskatoon