Real Estate Staging / Home Staging Blog

head_left_image

Staging 101: Remove personal pictures.

Any realtor who has shown real estate will tell you that a buyer's eyes will lock on to the seller's personal items, (ie. wedding photos -see below) like a heat seeking missile.

That's why when preparing a home for sale stagers will start by having the seller de-personalize the property.

We often suggest that the seller box up (since they are going to be moving anyway) or put away all family photos, awards, trophies, diplomas, children's artwork and religious artifacts.

Why do we suggest this? Simple: You want potential buyers to focus the property and see it as a home for themselves.

To reinforce my point... enjoy these little photographic gems I thought cought the magic of that special day.

Smile and have a great weekend...

Craig

 

11 commentsCraig Schiller • August 26 2006 07:13AM

Comments

Obviously Craig, you are not a Realtor.  We look at homes day in and day out.  It's a boring job.  Photos like these help us get through the day.  Now you want to remove them and make us look at one more boring, dull, staged home.

What's with you anyway?

Posted by Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022 (The Berkshire Group Realtors) over 3 years ago
How funny, At a showing just yesterday the buyers spent more time commenting on the photo's on the wall then about the house. So true!
Posted by Pam Hofmann - Your Crossville, Lake Tansi & Fairfield Glade Specialist (Third Tennessee Realty & Associates, LLC) over 3 years ago
Isn't that Kristal's husband in the first picture?  I hope you don't get charged with breaking and entering for stealing her wedding pics.  I am running out of points to use to bail people out of jail...
Posted by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky, SKBK Sotheby's - Metro Detroit (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) over 3 years ago

No doubt, Craig. I have had more people (while doing virtual tours) shake their heads at me and say "Can you believe that realtor wanted me to remove my PICTURES???" or "I just can't bring myself to take down the pictures my daughter made in Kindergarten from the refrigerator. It's *HER* space!!" I just tell them I've heard they can get more for their home if buyers can envision themselves and their own pictures & furniture..

What can ya do?

Posted by Dawn Shaffer Life is good! over 3 years ago
OK Maureen, that settles it.  All referrals go to SARA! 
Posted by Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022 (The Berkshire Group Realtors) over 3 years ago
Kristal, Bonnie offered to leave me a substantial deposit of "unmarked points" if I would post that.  It was a moment of weakness.
Posted by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky, SKBK Sotheby's - Metro Detroit (SKBK Sotheby's International Realty) over 3 years ago

Craig, you just took the cake--right out of the eatting bride's mouth.  Those are hilarious.  Love the Vera Wang gown in photo number one.  I've been in a slump....comedy wise.  I've got to get churning!

Bonnie Cox - Denver & Metro Denver

Posted by Bonnie Cox (RE/MAX Masters) over 3 years ago
I don't know what's so funny.  It looks like people having a great time at some wedding celebrations to me.
Posted by Rory Siems (Prudential California Realty) over 3 years ago

I would agree, pictures like those probably should be removed. 

Posted by REAL ESTATE over 3 years ago
Oh my, these photos are quite fantastic.  I'm with Kristal.  These are the little things that help us understand who the seller is.  LOL  Photos, and their choice of alcohol.  A bottle of Cooks in the fridge speaks volumes.  Do stagers hide cheep hooch as part of the staging process?
Posted by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL) over 2 years ago
Dawn, one thing to mention to sellers is that you don't know who will be looking at her house so maybe it will be a good idea to remove at least all the kid pictures
Posted by Joanna Bonicker Home Stager Baltimore, Maryland (First Impressions by Joanna: Home Staging, Redesign, & Decor) over 2 years ago

Participate



(optional)
What does the graphic say?