Home Staging To Sell - Decluttering, Depersonalizing

Research shows an interesting glitch in most potential buyer's emotional reaction to the houses they look at. Perhaps it begins when we are children and fight so desperately for "my" toys, "my" side of the room, "my" clothes. When a buyer walks into an occupied house, they are both consciously and subconsciously aware that this house belongs to someone else. And, if the house shows clear signs of that ownership, potential buyers tend to respect it. That ownership makes it difficult, in many cases even impossible, for the buyer to imagine themselves as the owners.

In Staging, we strive to maximize the number of people who CAN imagine themselves as the owners, as living in, the house.

So, we depersonalize the house. As much as we can, we remove the signs of our ownership.

First, you need to protect yourself. Most potential buyers are honest people who respect you and your property deeply. But a very few buyers are not honest. And, if there a crowd during an Open House, there may be accidental bumps, things can get broken. Look at every item in every room and ask yourself, "What is my emotional attachment to this thing? If there is an accident, or if it 'disappeared', how deeply would I feel the loss?" If the loss of an item would truly damage you, protect it, pack it away.

Second, remind yourself, "The way I live in my house when it is for sale is not the same as they way I live in my home". Now stand at the doorway of each room and ask yourself, "What are the things in this room that tell buyers this is still my home?" Walk around the room, look on bookshelves and counters, look on walls, look into those contained spaces, and ask yourself the same question.

Family photos, trophies, children's artwork, heirlooms, valuable and/or beloved collections all need to be packed and stored in a secure place.

Label the contents of boxes you are going to store very clearly. If you have an emotional need to get at something on a regular basis, put it in a contained space or in a neutral, lidded wicker/attractive box that can be used as decoration when the furnishings are arranged.

This removes some of the beauty of your home. But, your home is not your home anymore. It is your house and you are going to sell it. Staging is pre-packing to move.

I hope you have a great day! See you tomorrow.