Staging Question

[off2skl]

We are in the process of getting our condo ready for market and I have one question about "staging."

We have a set of 3 ledge shelves in our dining room (you can see the example at this pottery barn link).

http://ww1.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpcaccdecshv%7Crshop%2Fshpcacc%7Crsho p&pkey=caccdecshv&gids=p5257

Right now we have personal pictures on it, but I know that's a no-no when we put the place on the market. Taking them down isn't an option. So, any suggestion as to what to put on them???

Thanks!

[pride&prejudice]

Just a quick question, why is taking them down not an option? Do you plan on leaving them with the house?

Just asking, becuase our realator told us to take down everything that was attached to the wall and that we didn't want to leave. If it is attached, it can be considered part of the house. If you don't ake them don't I'd suggesting putting something on them stating "Does not stay with the house". HTH.

[eponymous]

I think that having *some* personal pictures up is fine. We left a grouping of six photos that were displayed in a china cabinet-type thing, and it looks fine. When we bought the house, they had a similar display, and it didn't bother me; in fact, seeing how happy they were gave me a good feeling about the house. Too much personalization is bad, but honestly, our house looks a little strange with so much stuff removed. That said, what about some dried flowers or other small knick-knacks?

I agree with P&P's concern about "things nailed into the walls" - please make sure that your contract specifies that they will go with you.

[KaliLily]

Just wanted to add that if you do take them down, please fix the holes and any paint inconsistencies. The previous owners of my home didn't repair the holes or paint after they took down the wallmount TV stand and surround sound speakers. Now I'm left with big holes and big white spots on the walls where the tv stand and speakers used to be - and no left over paint in the color they used in those rooms. :(

[boilermaker]

Just wanted to add that if you do take them down, please fix the holes and any paint inconsistencies. The previous owners of my home didn't repair the holes or paint after they took down the wallmount TV stand and surround sound speakers. Now I'm left with big holes and big white spots on the walls where the tv stand and speakers used to be - and no left over paint in the color they used in those rooms. :(

Actually, that should be in the contract as a buyer. We have always add it to ours, that the seller will repair and repaint any damage caused by specific wall hangings.

And from personal experience, those Pottery Barn shelves do a number on your wall, so you prob don't want to take them down now. I agree that a few personal items aren't a bad thing, just be careful that your room still looks nuetral and spacious.

[Aimee]

I think it's contingent on the property law in your particular state whether anything attached to the wall is automatically included in the contract. If you're using a realtor, they should know the definitive answer. You can also always exclude them in a counter-offer.

I'd go around somewhere and snap a few pretty landscape shots on my digital camera, print them in black and white and put them in the frames. It keeps the original grouping, but doesn't scream "HI I LIVE HERE!"

[mamax2]

In my area, the only things attached to walls that are typically included are light fixtures and window treatments. I've NEVER seen anyone expect decorative wall shelves to be included. But, back to the issue at hand - could you get some small vases with flowers, lean a picture against the wall, etc. Some small collectible items would be fine too and if it's just 1 or 2 personal photos, I don't see a problem with that. You just don't want it to be the first thing people notice about your house, kwim?

[Jennifer]

I'd go around somewhere and snap a few pretty landscape shots on my digital camera, print them in black and white and put them in the frames. It keeps the original grouping, but doesn't scream "HI I LIVE HERE!"


I REALLY like that idea - still photos and personality - but not too specific - that wouldn't have thrown me at all when I was house hunting.

[off2skl]

Thansk so much for the ideas. I really like the landscape photo idea since I'm not much of a knick knack person. I never would have thought of it on my own though!

[designer]

So - we aren't ready to sell our house yet, but now I'm worried about my "picture wall" I have a wall in our house that has about 12 frames all with black and white pictures of family and friends. Should I take those down when we put our house on the market - I think the wall would look REALLY bare without them....and I don't really want to replace the pictures inside of the frames, since I'm planning on hanging them in my new house...

Is that a big NO-NO to leave those family/friends pictures up??

[ThreeYell]

designer - I left up my family picture wall. I have 9 pictures in black frames - a picture from our wedding, our law school graduation, and the rest of our son. You can kind of see it in this picture.
http://www.mcenearney.com/resources/img/listings/10384381239/L-29127-lg.jpg

I have several friends who recently bought houses and they all agreed that they liked seeing some pictures in a house. After hearing that I decided to leave up these pictures and about 4 or 5 others throughout the house.

[mindy75]

Designer: I agree with ThreeYell regarding the picture wall. We had one in our hallway. We had about 12 black and white photos of us and other family members. We did not take them down for 2 reasons. 1. The hall seemed really bare without them and 2. I did not want to have to patch all those holes and repaint. Ahem, lazy? Yes, but they didn't put that into the contract. Our realtor said they were fine. We don't have a lot of family photos anywhere else, so a little personalization is good. All the frames matched and the pics went together. I have been to staged houses that no one lives in and seen family photos scattered around. I think a little of that gives you the impression that a family lives there and can help you imagine your family living there.

[Sabrina]

As a recent buyer, I didn't mind seeing personal photos in the houses we looked at. Family and friends are what make a house a home! As long as you don't have a crazy amount of photos all over the house or in odd places (e.g. the bathroom), I would leave them out.

[kimthebride]

We're selling our condo as well, and the realtor said as few personal pictures as possible.

If I had those shelves, I'd clear off the people-pics and put bud vases with fresh flowers in them and artwork or landscape/detail shots of the area on it. Like if you live in a city, some architectural shots or by the beach, a sunset and plantlife. That kind of thing.

[jajacobsen]

There are two schools of thought on the staging a house thing. The first is no personal pictures. Whatsoever.

The second is that a FEW personal pictures in a family home are fine.

Personally I think a few are fine and I have bought and sold houses three times. Is it really so offputting to the buyer to see someone else's photos? I mean, they do know they are buying an occupied house, correct? Not a new build or the model home. Then what's wrong with a few pictures?

What was really important to me as a buyer (and so I did it as a seller, too) was for all the clutter to to be cleared out and the place really cleaned. Visible scuff marks on walls (as a buyer I'm thinking - that's gotta be repainted...), cluttered closets, cluttered spare rooms, excess clothing, childrens toys scattered about, untidy front lawns and scummy looking dorrmats, and the worst - less than sparkling clean bathrooms. These factors put me off more than a few framed wedding or children's pictures.

The loast home I sold, the buyer's agent (not my agent) said he was really impressed with the condition and "showability" of my house - that he could have sold it three times over.

Just MHO. I would leave your picture walls up but remove say, excess pics, coupons, magnets etc from the fridge. And only have one "wall of pics" not multiple displays.

[designer]

Thanks for all your opinions. It makes me feel better about my picture wall. I think I'll end up leaving it as is and just make sure I don't have too many more personal pics around the house.