Dawn, you are so welcome.  I value what others write and want to support knowledge for stagers and the clients. 

Kathy, how right you are!!!  The packing thing does work, especially in the context of just packing away the winter clothes in the summer and summer clothes in the winter, it's a good start.

Michelle, I agree.  Sometimes people SAY they would like to see who lives in the home and feel how they live.  Then they do and they begin to identify with them, and it is too hard to make the house theirs.  I have a couple of clients that actually did buy Mary's home and still call it that.  That's unusual, usually they just don't buy it.

Jon, yes they do, no one knows that better than a Realtor who is showing homes, you've heard the comment more times than not.  There may be nothing wrong with the house and it might fit exactly but it is too identified with the current owner or the buyer feels they just don't want to move.  And sometimes they don't. 

Donna, those are the most challenging as they are probably just moving to buy more closets!!!  SO, you have to do the pack the things you won't use this month, like the winter clothes in summer, etc.  otherwise they'll never be ready. I've also had buyers who worry the seller will never be able to get out of the house as they have too much stuff.  The buyer doesn't want delays because the seller can't physically make the move.  It's difficult.

Michelle, right on as always.  The sellers intention is alive and well in their home.  That's why it's so important to have them begin to move on with the packing,e tc,  otherwise the buyer gets what's really going on and won't buy.  I've had listings like this, the family just digs in their heels...and the buyers never buy.

Kym yup.

Leah, yes, Michelle is right on with that observation.  You know that buyers buy on "feelings" and the feeling that you aren't ready to move is pretty obvious in a home.  That's why often buyers ask "where are you moving"  not so much to know where but to know IF and WHEN you are moving.  It's a fair question and the answer tells volumes to a buyer.

Kathy, how right you are.  Of course when writing these posts we are thinking of a perfect world.  And the truth is that there are alot of things that cost no money that yield a HUGE return.  Our staging professionals can do consults to tell the Realtor and the client about those too.  Happy Selling.