Connecticut Home Staging Story:  Family Photos - Do Or Don't?

Kevin Crawford's recent Featured blog post asks "Do people REALLY hate your family photos?"  Bemoaning the pervasive nature of the many HGTV staging programs, he decried the sterile appearance of many "staged" houses because all the family photos had been removed.

(Personally, I feel that it's a sad decorating case if the only art and accessories are family photos!)

When a professional Stager recommends removing personal and family photos, it is for several reasons:

  • Safety of family members, especially the children's
  • Prevent buyer distractions
  • Enable buyers to envision themselves in the home

It's certainly not because anyone "hates" family photos!

When large photos or collections of photos are removed, we frequently have them replaced with other art and/or accessories to keep a warm feel to the house.  Here's the example I used in my comment on Kevin's post:

Before

Before:  HUGE portrait of lovely couple above the bed in the master bedroom; it doesn't leave "room" for buyers to imagine themselves living there.  There's a slight feeling of discomfort; an invasion of someone's personal, private space.  You want buyers to feel welcome and be able to imagine themselves in this space!

 

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After:  In a Staging Consultation, I asked the sellers to change out the portrait for a neutral landscape (or the like), and this is what they selected.  I don't know what it is, but at least we're not distracted by the photo!  Nothing else was changed; it's not sterile, but it's not as personal as it was before.

Now the focus is on the room itself!

Connecticut Home Staging Story:  Family Photos - Do Or Don't?

 

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Posted by Julia Maher, Connecticut Home Stager Staging Fairfield & New Haven Counties on 09/30/2011 06:13 PM   Comments (15)   Home Staging in the Home Selling Channel   connecticut home stager  
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15 Comments on Connecticut Home Staging Story: Family Photos - Do Or Don't?

SEP
30
2011
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Let the stager do the job and remove personal items and photos, that's what a client is paying for!
6:15pm • #1
117,304 Points Outside Blog

I am 100% in agreement with you!  Sometimes my clients don't take my advice but for the most part they have and understand it.
11:22pm • #2
OCT
01
2011
579,645 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Yes -- remove those distracting personal photos.  I think it's OK to have photos of cute dogs or cats ... but no people, please!
12:09am • #3
235,736 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Julia--I am glad you posted this from your original comments because I don't think it can be said enough.  I think personal photos represent "TMI" and should not be on display when the property is on the market.  I was in a property recently where the proud grandparents had a bunch of photos on shelves right as you walked past the foyer.  Even though the children don't live there, the first thing prospective buyers would be drawn to was commenting on the cute children and missing the details of the built-ins the photos were on. 
12:40am • #4
102,932 Points Called Shot Master

Julia, I know we are all in agreement on this topic....... put away the "people pictures and photos". Nothing else will make a buyer feel as if  he is intruding into someone else's "space", as a bunch of people pictures everywhere.... especially those wedding portraits and school days photos.......people pictures in a room declares "we live here" and even if the sellers are not present at a showing, those photos give a "face" to the family that lives there (marking their territory kind of).....
3:11am • #5
284,203 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Teri:  That's a good one!  "Marking their territory!"

Janet:  Bingo!  Buyers were missing an important feature of the house?  Time for the photos to go!

Maureen:  There are cute cats?  JK!!!  I probably wouldn't do that either...we could substitute a book or small plant...

Amen, Brice

Wendy:  I am disappointed when folks don't follow my recommendations on this issue.  They're usually the worst offenders - LOL

 
10:40am • #6
213,379 Points 2 Featured Posts
I agree that photos are too personal and no matter how cute they tell the prospective buyer that the seller is still very much LIVING THERE.
11:49am • #7
408,718 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Julie - Wow - you give a perfect example here with your photos of this bedroom.  Nothing more needs to be said.  We're not sterilizing the home, we're just opening the home up to more potential buyers. 
10:43pm • #8
357,148 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Much better....enough said. :)
11:05pm • #9
OCT
02
2011
284,203 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Beverly - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...or not!

Sally - The art piece they selected has the same graphic impact as their photo, just not the emotional one!

Thanks Shar!
9:47am • #10
172,115 Points 11 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Julia-

As a Realtor I do alot of staging and I never would have imagined the impact of the "family photo" (above)-----it actually was kind of creepy----I like the neutral landscaping picture, much nicer. You're right, it felt like an invasion of someone's privacy & that is not a good feeling for a Buyer.
3:22pm • #11
OCT
07
2011
585,909 Points 57 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Julia -- you make an excellent point of protecting the children in the family --- I'm sure this is a very effective way to get the message across to sellers who are parents.
10:33pm • #12
OCT
12
2011
2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Hi, Julia, Much Better, but how about getting rid of that burgundy wall color as well? Yikes, too much for me, and I suspect for most buyers. 
12:17am • #13
OCT
15
2011
1,022,995 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I tend to agree with you.  But then I see builders putting photos of real people in (probably better looking people than me) homes to help people envision how a family fits into the home.  
10:31pm • #14
JAN
01
2012
1,022,995 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Excellent Post.  Taking the personal photos out helps alot.  On the other side I see all sorts of "personal" photos when looking at staged builder homes.  Why is that?
6:30pm • #15


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Julia Maher, Connecticut Home Stager Staging Fairfield & New Haven Counties

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