should i TAKE DOWN family photos when selling?

Jun 21

One of our top pieces of advice during our pre-sale consultations is to depersonalize the property by removing personal effects. The goal is to present the property so that a potential buyer can picture themselves in the space and family photos and possessions can be a distraction. That being said, do we recommend that a homeowner take down every single photo in the house? Absolutely not! You are selling a home and a lifestyle and family photos can emphasize all the memories to be made in the home. The key is to leave a small number of photos, in the right frames and in the right location. Here are our top tips for personal photos when your home is on the market:

PARE DOWN THE AMOUNT OF PERSONAL PHOTOS

It’s common to have personal photos throughout your house, but we’ve walked through properties where every surface is covered with photos. The walls are full of memories from every wedding, graduation, and birthday party for the last 20 years and the countertops showcase an eclectic mix of frames documenting the family history. If this sounds familiar, we recommend that you scale back the quantity of photos, leaving only a handful of pictures throughout as you prepare your home for sale. Take a lap around your home and select those few photos that you cannot live without and pack away the rest. Even if you don’t plan to move for some time, it’s great to get a jump start on packing and clearing out photos and frames, as well as other personal clutter. This will alleviate some of the packing stress down the road.

PLACE OR HANG PHOTOS IN STRATEGIC LOCATIONS

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of photos, we recommend that you place them in strategic locations. We love to see one or two framed photos styled in shelves and bookcases, or placed on a bedroom nightstand or dresser. We typically recommend against large gallery walls of framed photos while the house is on the market, but a set of nicely framed wall photos along the hallway or in the bedroom can look great. It’s preferable to have photos in the more intimate spaces of the home, like the primary bedroom, as opposed to in the main living spaces. For example, we recommend that you replace a large family portrait over the fireplace or mantle with a mirror or large art and keep living and dining rooms more neutral and impersonal.

REMOVE ANY CONTROVERSIAL PHOTOS

In addition to specific religious or political objects in the home, it’s important to pack away any controversial photos. Leaving out décor that is polarizing may offend a potential buyer and distract them from the beauty of the home. As an example, a beautiful maternity shoot may be a treasured photo for the seller, but perhaps may turn off buyers. It’s best to error on the side of caution - if you think a photo could potentially make a buyer uncomfortable, take it down.

USE SIMPLE AND CONSISTENT FRAMES

For the select photos that you keep in the home, it’s best to keep your frames simple and consistent throughout. We love thin black or white frames with white mats for framed wall photos, which are classic and clean. People often collect picture frames as gifts over the years and while an eclectic mix of frames can be fun, we recommend that you use consistent metals and styles for your tabletop. Again, think simple and modern frames - nothing too ornate or distracting.

At the end of the day, you are absolutely allowed to keep some family photos around when you are selling. Remember to be thoughtful of the potential buyers and follow our tips for selecting and showcasing your family photos.

Below are some great frame options to shop: