I wrote last week about how distracting personal photos can be when it comes to selling your home: Old School Thinking: Personal Photos do NOT Make Your Home Feel More Like HOME While You Are Selling"
I'm in a lot of homes as I consult with Sellers and I do see many beautiful and artfully displayed photos on the wall. Wall Words are very popular right now as well as frames with meaningful sayings that celebrate the family displayed and what is important to them. I see gorgeous black and white photography of families and children. And let's not forget those baby shots that just melt your heart!
But when you are SELLING....as stunning as these pictures and wall displays are, they are DISTRACTING to your Buyers. If you haven't read my last post about this, stop and click the above link to read. It's alright...I'll wait. (whistling...looking around...)
Okay...you're back. You got that now, right?
So... now the BIG question. What do we do with these beautiful photo displays on the walls?
- Do we take them all down, patch the wall/re-paint and stare at a blank boring wall?
- Do we add a piece of artwork instead?
- What if we have A LOT of walls with photos?
Don't despair! There is a "Staging Technique" that works quite well.
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to "neutralize" those family photos is to replace the photos inside.
Here's how in 3 Easy Steps:
- I tell my clients to go to Google.com and then to "Images". Do a search for "Black and White landscaping/nature/trees/flowers....." whatever you prefer or works in that particular room. And it can be in "color" too if it works better for that space.
- Once you find what you're looking for, print it off in the appropriate size.
- Put it over the existing photo in the frame and Ta-Dah!....you have a nice, neutral photo.
Here's an example of a past client's homes. The pictures to the right were of their children but temporary replaced with neutral B&W photos.
Remember that there is also a "balance" that needs to be achieved throughout the house when it comes to all those personal photos.
To achieve this balance, follow these guidelines:
- There may be some walls that everything will need to come down and you'll patch and re-paint.
- There may be a wall that will need a piece of artwork in place of the photos. The photo below is a perfect example. DO NOT attempt adding 11 pictures of "trees" to this collage and calling it a keeper.
- If you have a display of photos with mis-matched frames, they DEFINITELY need to come down. DO NOT attempt to replace the photos with the staging technique above using all those different frames. It just won't work.
- Which brings me to the last guideline: Be sure that all the frames in your display are the same. This creates a nice, clean simplistic presentation that does not distract from the selling features of the room. The example below is a good one. Now, don't start thinking that the photos in those frames would be fine for selling either. Can you just see the Buyer's getting sucked into how sweet those babies are? Are they looking at your fabulous fireplace and large windows right now? A good replacement photo would be a landscape. You'll see in the far top left hand side the photo looks to be a far off shot of a hillside and trees. If people ARE in it and you can barely make them out...it's fine to keep that one. Landscape of a beautiful hillside, mountain, river etc. go well with the wording too.
Still unsure about creating that balance?
Consider hiring a Home Stager. Stagers offer a Staging Consultation that is a very cost effective solution. The professional House Stager can assist you with creating that balance as well as an overall plan to get your house ready for the market. This takes all the second guessing and stress out of it as you prepare your home.
Happy Staging!
Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President. Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.
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Hello Teresa and I really like your post, it's very interesting.
Good Job Teresa, I may do this for my house and I am not selling just would like a change once in awhile.
Thanks for the suggestions, Teresa. I have a problem with sellers who still live in the house, they feel that those personal photos somehow convey a feeling of "love" that is residing there. And that this is a selling point! I have had others who wanted to convey a not to subtle message with their art; I know that their secret wish is that someone with their own background will buy the house. And I have to keep telling them to "let go".
Teresa - Wow, these are some awesome suggestions for neutralizing photos! I would have never though about the black and whites from Google but what a great immediate and less costly way to achieve ZEN! ;)
Maybe I have just been lucky, but I have never had a client complain about the photos displayed in a home. Too much furniture, YES!!! Family photos or artwork; No. Great tips. Homes stages properly absolutely sell faster.
Great suggestion to address this common issue!
Great staging information. The first thing when I see a home is to ask the seller to remove the personal photos. This information is another way to be able to keep their favorite in-laws on the wall, without detering from the home.
Biggest distraction I witnessed with a almost married young couple was a nude photo - large - in the loft of a townhome. I kept having to drag him away. I am sure the seller never even thought about it but I perhaps it should have been replaced - on the other hand he bought the house!
Teresa, thanks for the ideas and congratulations on the feature! I never would have thought about the trading out the photos.
In Chilliwack our community of about 75000 we all (realtors) know so many of the same people. The pictures are often more distracting for us then it is for the home buyers. But they should be downsized for sure.
What I find interesting is that I've never been in an apartment or house where the buyers say something really negative about pictures of the owners. They usually say negative things about the filth or mess found in the apartment, but never the pictures. Either way I think your advice is great.
I know that I have wandered around looking at the pictures... Of course, landscapes would suck me in, too...
Is this OK? Just asking.
Theresa,
Great tips here!
And how about having pictures of the outside of the home or its garden... or decorated for various holidays in those frames? When I worked in upstate NY, I once showed a home in the winter that had pictures of the glorious summer garden & it helped my buyers visualize how beautiful the grounds are in the summer.
Good advice, and a great solution. Smart thinking. I like it. I subscribed to your blog. Keep up the bright ideas.....
Teresa, love the idea of substituting generic photos where the family pix are. Great idea!
nice job, great idea!
I was in a house with a high-profile seller a while back. The face was easily recognizable. What a distraction! But honestly, it didn't stop my clients from making an offer. Nevertheless - I like the ideas about neutralizing photos. Terrific.
I can not believe how many houses I have been in recently where it feels like they are in a contest to cover every square inch of wall with personal photos
Great blog, you couldnt be any more correct. I love the idea of printing off pictures and covering your personal photos. Thanks
Hi Teresa,
What a great blog, and fantastic advice!
Just because prospective buyers do not come right out and verbalize that those photos were a distraction or turn off, it doesn't mean that the photos did not contribute to the steady accumulation of little subconscious "things" that eventually added up to them getting back in the car after the showing and saying, "You know, there is just something about that house that makes it not one of my favorites today. Let's go look at the next one."
Super ideas in this post. And one more thing, Pete Rose should be in the HOF.
This is better than having to purchase new artwork for those blank walls.
Teresa:
What great suggestions you have here. I think I will use this one with my clients, too!!! Thanks for the advice. Congratulations on the featured post.
Hi Teresa -- Exceptional advice, and very efficient as well. The only thing I would be careful about is printing photos that may be copyrighted.
I did this kind of thing for years in my model homes; they are perfect photos, and no copyright issues usually.
Great post and you make some good points to think about.
Do you think they all have to go? How about some of the smaller ones on a table or in a bookcase.?
Decorations shouldn't detract, and clutter ... even on the wall ... detracts. Good points.
Interesting post-these are great suggestions. I think your help could be used in a lot of homes I show!
Teresa, Congrats on the Feature! You gave an excellent suggestion, with appropriate caveats. Hope more sellers listen! Happy Staging - Julie
Ummm . . . as a photographer myself, this actually violates copyright, sorry to say. Great suggestion, just use your own photos -- not someone else's.
People need to be really clear on this, as it is the same as downloading a movie, song or copying software you didn't pay for. Bits and bytes are not free. Maybe it helps to say that it is the same as photocopying a book, or out and out physically stealing it.
Hey there Teresa,
Love the post! I am not one to play by the rules at all!! If something looks great and design wise flows well, I will do it!! Design and even staging is a creative process and being creative involves RISK, I frimly believe ya gotta take risks! I have recommended that people do leave their family photos up...as long as they are done very well, grouped in one area of the home...and are not a focal point of the room...Who wants to see a 45x45 of a couples wedding photo over the fireplace mantle! Especially if the bride got married in the 1980's!!!! Not me! :)
Great blog Teresa. I'm of the opinion, that family photos need to come down, and having different types of frames in the same room is a bad idea.
I know this has been the advise from staggers for a long time, but not sure I agree totally.........although it should not be cluttered with family pics..........as ALL clutter needs to go, I do not see a problem of pics of the family enjoying the home. IE: live on water front - not a bad idea to show a few pics of the family enjoying the water activities.............live in a historical area, not a bad idea to show pics of them visiting wonderful local sites of the area...........I think if used wisely and with some thought it can help to sell the home by selling the "area" as well.
great post, I am wrting an e-book 30 some odd ways to sell your shouse faster. some great info in here
Dave
Great post, Teresa! You just got National Press! I just linked in to your article through the Think Big Work Small Daily Show online. You should check it out if you haven't already.
http://www.thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/player/tbws/22129/1090984
great idea, allows for some character at the same time allowing a buyer to imagine it as their own!
Great advice1 I had neer considered replacing personal photos with neutral ones.