Don’t Depersonalize Before Selling

“Depersonalize” – this term drives me crazy. Some agents and sites suggest completely depersonalizing your home. My suggestion is a resounding don’t do it! There is a big difference between de-cluttering and de-personalizing. Houses in my opinion are not just brick and mortar. There is history and an energy about them. Buyers want to know about that history. They want to know whether you loved your house and the neighborhood. They want a connection. Like it or not they make those connections by what they see, feel, and smell.

You can speak to these feelings by your home’s overall look.  The colors you choose, your personal items, the way the house has been maintained, the overall energy, your garden. The collection of memorabilia you might have, and your personal photos, books you read – it all tells a story. People will notice. You usually can automatically tell if a house has been loved.

I prefer listing a home owner occupied rather than staged whenever possible. Sometimes I suggest a combination of staging and personal items. Just please don’t pack up all your pictures, personal photos, books, special items you bought at an art fair. Don’t cover your colors with off white.

Now, clutter is  something completely different. I generally go through the house and make suggestions about what needs to be cleared out. You want to convey a message while still

presenting the maximum room size and house in a good light. If you have an office with four bookcases it means you are well read but also makes the room look small so i suggest removing a couple of those. If your kitchen has every possible appliance, it says you love to cook, but also makes the kitchen look smaller.  Let’sput a few of those appliances away.  Sometimes it is just a question of moving things around.