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Removing Personal Photos While on the Market

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker

When a client's house is on the market I always ask them to remove their personal photos. A lot of times they aren't receptive at first. But once they understand the why behind it, they are on board. So here are the big three:

1. When a person is shopping for a home, they want to imagine themselves in the home. When there are personal photos throughout the house, it feels like they are in someone else's home and it's much harder to visualize it as their own.

2. Photos are distracting. Home buyers only spend a few minutes touring the home and usually make a decision as to whether they like the home within the first 30 seconds. Do you really want them spending that precious time looking at your photos or would you rather they be looking at the house?

3. For safety reasons it's better not to display your children's photos. You never know who will be touring your house and you can never be too safe when it comes to your kids!

••••••••••••••

When your house is on the market it's much better to replace personal photos with more neutral art. Remember, they are shopping for THEIR new dream home, not yours!

Another important safety measure for kids rooms, always remove anything that has your child's name on it!

So when I ask you to remove your photos, remember, IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL!

Posted by

Kelly Townsend, Realtor, ASP, CDPE

Coldwell Banker

600 Bicentennial Way, Suite 100

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Videos we do are sensitive to same. With photos, we have over fireplaces insert a new image of the local area.

Jan 17, 2010 06:10 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Kelly - All very good advice.  I know my family photos are very important to me, but when your house is on the market, they need to be packed away and brought out at your new home.  A house on the market should look like a model home, with no evidence of who lives there.

Jan 17, 2010 06:13 AM
Judi Boad
SOLUTIONS REAL ESTATE - Scottsdale, AZ

Good points Kelly!

I like what Susan said as well: "A house on the market should look like a model home, with no evidence of who lives there."

Best regards,

Jan 17, 2010 06:23 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Kelly -- excellent explanation (and the same thing I tell my clients too) about why personal photos are a No No when your home is on the market.  I've seen people making all kinds of assumptions too about the sellers when they see vacation photos, photos of pets, etc.  Appropriate wall decor is so much more impactful than personal photos.

Jan 17, 2010 07:16 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

I totally agree with all 3 of your reasons.....once in awhile I also run into resistance but generally sellers come around!

Jan 17, 2010 04:09 PM
Lori Kim Polk
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Great advice... why would anyone want to advertise their family??? ;) This is something that many homeowners just don't think about.

Jan 17, 2010 04:35 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Great Post!  #3 is very important - right up there with no knife blocks out on the kitchen counter.  Julie

Jan 18, 2010 03:00 AM