You’ve probably heard it before: remove all personalized items when selling your home. It’s a rule that can be broken sometimes, and one that should be adhered to diligently at other times.
So…why put personal items away? Let’s start with the most important reason:

Safety.

1. Photos of the rooms in your house will be showcased online. Everyone can access the MLS listing photos. You might be proud of your university diploma and your child’s school pictures from over the years. However, that’s probably not information you want the public to view.

2. Items that tie your family members to locations. School paperwork, paystubs, bank account paperwork, etc. should all be tucked somewhere inaccessible to people walking through your home.

Security

1. Valuables should be packed or put into a safe. Don’t take chances by leaving out any jewelry, antiques, or other non-replaceable/expensive items. People are generally honest, but why leave out something that could get stolen or accidentally broken? Many people will be walking through your house during the preparation and sale of your property. This includes all paperwork (banking, bills, medical, etc.).

2. Again, photos of your house will be online to the general public. While you might not mind sharing photos of your kids to friends and family on social media, you probably don’t want to share them with the world.

3. Medications need to be taken out or put into a safe. People will open all cupboard doors. Be sure there is nothing that has your personal information.

Distractions

1. Professional Home Stagers are trained to direct buyers’ eyes to the best features of your house. You want potential buyers to be looking at the beautifully decorated sofas and pillows that highlight the wall color and art. You don’t want people to stare at a pic of Little Johnny’s t-ball team to see if their kid plays on the same team.

2. Home stagers use specific items, shapes and colors that show off the house to its best potential. While those items are chic and fashionable, they tend to blend in…give a feeling of warmth and welcoming. Therefore, no matter how gorgeous, if you have a special item that draws attention from the house, put it away. (The exception to this is your nice furniture. Beautiful furniture gives buyers a vision of what they could have if they buy your house.)

3. Sports/TV etc. memorabilia. Believe it or not, some potential buyers won’t even look at a house if there are displays of sports teams that the buyer doesn’t like. You want a fast sale with the most money. Every single buyer matters. Appealing to the masses matters. Pack your college and professional basketball, football, soccer, and hockey team pennants away for your next home.

4. Of course, cleanliness is always important, so personal care items like toothbrushes, razors, and lotions, should be placed under the sink or out of view.

When Can You Break the Personal Item Rule?

Sometimes, you have nice, general family photos. For instance, a simple photo of family members sitting in the sand with seagrass blowing around them could signal to a buyer: people who live here have fun and take vacations.

Similarly, displaying a professional wedding photo in the master bedroom cold lead buyers to see the room as romantic. Your professional home stager will guide you to find which photos could work in your home.

Think about your buyers. Taking out the personal items lets potential buyers “see” themselves living in your house. Let this be their impression. Not how you’ve lived in the house, but how the house has potential to be the home for them.