Removing personal items is perhaps the most important thing when it comes to home staging. Potential buyers don’t want to know about the family that lived on the property before. And they don’t want to see empty rooms. Buyers want to see a blank slate full of potential. According to the NAR 93% of agents surveyed, recommend decluttering the home as the most important home improvement step. 68% of survey agents recommend depersonalizing the home to ensure buyer satisfaction.
By leaving personal items on display (family photos, religious texts, favorite movies, even sports memorabilia) you risk distracting or even alienating potential home buyers. Imagine walking into someone else’s home for the first time. You’re likely on your best behavior and very hesitant about breaking something or going into a room you’re not supposed to be in. It’s not as comfortable as your own home because the space simply is not your home. That’s the opposite of what you want your buyers to feel. Ideally, when someone walks into a staged property, they can easily visualize the space as their home. Lining the walls with personal artifacts ruins that illusion. Nobody wants to feel like they’re intruding.
Home staging revolves around aesthetic and marketing strategies that make your home as appealing as possible to the largest pool of potential buyers--even people with whom you may have absolutely nothing in common. You want everybody that walks through the door to be able to visualize themselves owning and living in the house. In order to do so, consider choosing neutral wall art and decor pieces.
Remember, clearing clutter and depersonalizing the home is to take down posters, framed degrees, and any certificates. Remove any family games, photos, musical instruments, toys, refrigerator door magnets, workout equipment and anything else that a buyer might interpret in a negative way. People will be opening cabinets and closet doors when looking at the property, so make sure personal items are stored away from the property and not tucked under the bed or stuffed into a pantry. Consider renting a small storage unit if you have nowhere else to keep your stuff. Or ask a friend if you can leave some things at their place while your home is being staged.
Note that “personal items” also extends to color choices. You may love your bright orange kitchen cabinets or your quirky bedroom wallpaper, but most buyers will prefer a more traditional look.
We know it’s a good deal of work to completely depersonalize a space for home staging. It’s both physically and emotionally draining at times. But taking the time to put away personal items and present your home in the best possible light is definitely worth it in the long run. Learn more do’s and don'ts of home staging practices guaranteed to sell.
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