"Do I really need to take down all my family pictures" before showing my house?
I’m always asked if family photos really need to be removed before listing and showing a home for sale. The answer is yes, and here’s why.
Whenever I’m talking with a client about getting their home ready for listing and showings, I often hear the question “Do I really need to take down all my family pictures?” Or a similar question related to their favorite collection of things. The answer is YES and here’s why.
When you’re selling your house, you have to remember who you are catering to: THE BUYER. And we (seller/home) are trying to make a very good first impression with THE BUYER. It’s just like when you go to buy a car. The dealership will clean every nook and cranny of the car, make it smell good, touch up the paint, and then put it in a clean and shiny showroom with bright, crisp lights. The end result is a car that looks amazing to the BUYER. Or you go shopping at your favorite store, and everything inside is beautifully displayed. The visual cues in that store appeal to all your senses (and of course you buy something). LOL!
The same principles apply to selling your home. Just like you wouldn’t want to test drive a car with someone else’s stuff in the cup holder or stuff in the passenger seat, home BUYERS also don’t want to see your “things” (especially personal items like photographs and collections) when they tour a home. They want the “showroom” wow factor.
Is it hard to live like your home is a model home? Yes, but is it worth it!! We can’t change a buyer’s psychological response to personal items and extra “stuff” in our homes, but we can control how buyers will view our homes by temporarily removing our personal items and de-cluttering. So grab some boxes and start packing. You’re moving anyway, so why not start now and make buyers fall in love with your home.
You've Gotta Let it Go!
Selling a house involves many things - one of which is “letting go” of the emotional attachment many of us have with our homes.
So, you’ve decided to sell your house. If you’re like most people (including myself), we all become emotionally attached to our homes. After all, it’s the place where we have shared so many experiences with our family and friends and have treasured memories. And with those memories, we often find it hard to let go — even when family, jobs, and other situations require us to move. More than once, I’ve had clients tear up as we move through the selling process. But, as my grandmother always told me, “once you decide to sell your house, it’s no longer yours.” The more you can switch gears emotionally from “it’s my home” to just another business transaction, the easier you’ll find the selling process. And best of all, I’m here to help you through the entire process - and I promise no judgment when the tears flow or emotions run high. Helping clients move on to the next phase of their lives is so rewarding for me. So, let me help you the next time you’re ready to sell.
