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You’re moving on to something different, something better – a new home, and a new opportunity to start fresh – congrats!
This can be a bittersweet time, though, because your home is a place of memories. A place of love and family togetherness. It’s where you brought your babies home. It’s where you celebrated birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, all the milestones. It’s where you grew and strengthened your relationships. All the meals, homework, playtime, hanging out – it’s where you’ve lived your everyday life, free to express and be who you are.
But once you’ve decided to make a change and put your house on the market, it’s time to detach and depersonalize. When staging your home for sale, it’s essential to create a space buyers can imagine themselves living in, and making their own memories. This doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to honor your memories made in the home. It just means you have to take yourself out of the home so others can see themselves in it.
Depersonalizing a home for sale involves creating a blank slate of sorts, so buyers can imagine what the home would be like as theirs. You want buyers to see the wonderful features and amenities in your home, not your things, and not be distracted by who you are/what your story is because of them.
To depersonalize your home, remove things in the following categories:
Family Photos
This is a hard one for many people, because this is the family home. Taking photos down feels a little like disassembling a foundation you’ve worked hard to make strong. But it’s ok. Remember, you’re moving! You’ll have to take them down eventually. In the meantime, focus on wrapping them carefully and paying attention to the good feelings you get as you look at them and relive important moments in time.
Diplomas and Awards
When living in your home, it’s important to display professional-related objects of pride, things that represent what you’ve worked so hard for, and recognition of your success. When you’re selling, those things are irrelevant to buyers. Buyers want clear, open space on walls and shelves to envision the possibilities for creating their own futures there.
Anything “Taste-Specific”
This can be a large category, comprised of too many things to name here. In general, staged homes should be neutralized, that is, the décor should appeal to a wide range of buyers. Furniture, artwork, wallpaper or wall colors that reflect a specific taste or theme should be removed. Create a soft, neutral space for buyers to feel comfortable moving right in.
Political or Religious Items
When showing your home for sale, it’s not important to make any political or religious statements. When too overt or strong, they can turn buyers off. We’re trying to appeal to the widest variety of people who may buy your home. Remove them for the time being, and let people see the house. Although important to you, they may not be to them, and you don’t need any reason for them to form an opinion besides, “This house is amazing!”
Collections
Very personal in nature, collections often are also seen as clutter. They are, after all, a collection of many things, and if you have more than one collection – more clutter. We want clear, open space in your home, so pack your collections up carefully and label the box for your new home. Less is more.
Getting your home ready for market is no easy task. It’s physical and emotional work, there’s no doubt. There’s the sorting, the decluttering, the packing, the cleaning… all the while reliving memories, and saying goodbye. Take it step-by-step and honor what’s important to you, boxing things up and preparing for what’s next.
Is selling on the horizon for you in the near future? Let’s connect to talk plan and strategy.
