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Home Staging Tip, Part 2 of 5

By Catherine C Capasso

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Catherine Cornelia Real Estate

January 19, 2009 01:20 AM

Have you completed Part 1 - De-cluttering? GREAT! You are now ready to move on to the next step:

De-personalize: The goal here is very simple. You want to remove everything that provides any information about who lives in the house. Family photographs; the refrigerator covered in artwork, magnets, notes, etc. if you are a collector, store away that collection. You may have already done this during your de-clutter step. If not, do it now. There are two thoughts on this. First, collecting something like antique dolls provides personal insite into the homeowner. We are trying to have the potential buyer imagine living in the home. If they don't like antique dolls, this can turn them off. The buyer may not even realize this is happening. Second, the collection may be valuable. Don't risk it.

Remove all distractions. You want the buyer to see the space and imagine their things in it.

This is a short post. There really isn't a lot of detail here. Just do it!

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Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807

HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ

Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

This is so true. You don't want anything distracting the buyer from imagining their furniture or belongings in the home. I was in a listing today that had family pictures throughout the home. It really made me feel like the sellers were not ready to move yet.

Jan 20, 2009 08:00 AM

Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling

Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

Excellent point. The buyers will go away remembering the collection rather than the home.

I also specify that my clients remove any religious objects. This can be a potentially upsetting request. I reassure my clients by letting them know that we are not trying to get them to hide their faith or beliefs, but we have no idea what the beliefs of their prospective buyers may be and we want to make them all feel comfortable. It has always worked for me without offending the sellers.

Jan 21, 2009 04:25 PM

Catherine C Capasso

Catherine Cornelia Real Estate - Eastchester, NY

Cottage or Castle, What's Your Dream!

Troy: Sometimes it is a subconscious reaction to the home. We know something isn't quite right and can't always put our finger on it. Family pictures are often overlooked by the seller when they begin the staging process. Letting them know it can hinder the sale because the potential buyer senses they aren't ready to move yet is a great point.

Pangaea: Thanks for the reminder about religious objects. In staging, we are trying to turn the sellers home into a house that the buyer wants to make their home.

Jan 21, 2009 11:11 PM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Catherine,
This may be the most difficult one to get clients to do--people really hate to remove their "personals". But I do agree with you, it is very important.

Feb 04, 2009 10:00 PM

Cynthia, thanks for the encouragement on this step. It really is the most difficult for the clients. I think reality sets in at this step - they are going to sell their home and move and this step starts the conversion from their home to a house for sale. I have had clients realize they aren't ready to make a move and decide not to sell, which is better than having them object to every offer that comes in after the property is listed.

Feb 05, 2009 12:38 AM

Home Staging Tip, Part 2 of 5

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