Fine for everything from toothpaste and cars, electronics, vacation destinations and upscale frozen food.  Remember Carol Merrill from Let’s Make A Deal?  Lawn mowers never looked better.

Your listing?  Snort…giggle…blush…awkward silence…umm, not so much.

Generally, any extreme or over-personalized home décor gets panned by potential buyers, and it distracts buyers from seeing the space. 

TV shows tackle the usual scenarios: exuberant color schemes, too much stuff, and funky or outdated themes; but how do you deal sellers’ décor that should require ID, or a parent or guardian? 

 Or a den that looks like a campaign headquarters? Homes whose cup doth runneth over with religious symbols/icons? 

-Don’t over-think it, or get pulled into the emotional aspect

-Ask ‘Could/would/does ______ get in the way of selling this house?’  This desensitizes, and keeps it a business discussion  

-Your official*  line is anything that makes you think of anything besides buying and living in this house needs to be packed away

-*Corollary: Real Estate is hyper-local. It would be foolish to deny there are accepted differences in different markets

-Start with best-case suggestions. You may have to pick your battles, but you’re on the record, and can always re-visit

-Addressing all concerns with seller clearly and early on, is both kind and efficient  Bringing things up after house has been on the market for 6 months is a bad fallback

-If the seller or agent is unsure or uncomfortable with any of this, PLEASE start the conversation with a Professional Stager first

(Good) Professional Stagers work with agents to create solutions that meet the clients needs and expectations, and support the agents’ marketing and pricing strategy.  Because they believe in honoring the clients and their possessions, it is always done within a respectful relationship.

 NEXT: Sniff, sniff-how many cats did you say you have??