Transformation Tuesday & Home Staging "All I Want is a Photograph"

Here is our Transformation Tuesday Home Staging Post!

You have heard it time and time again - take down family photos!  De-personalize your home as much as possible when listing.  

I have my own thoughts on family photos in the home and displaying them when the home is being listed for sale!

1. Some photos NEED/ MUST to come down, but you don't have to take them all down (in my opinion)

 For example - Family Photo Galleries on walls can be a distraction.  The galleries are designed to attract the eye to the gallery!  People will be curious as to who lives in a home, but they don't need to be perusing your wall of photos; they need to be viewing your home.



 While charming, this photo gallery would be a distraction to a potential purchaser




 I have seen some homes where there are over 50 family photos just in ONE ROOM! That's too much (In my humble opinion) even if your home is not on the market.  Make sure you have the paint or a the chip in case you have to paint over areas that have those darling photo galleries.  You can replace the gallery with a few framed pieces of artwork to fill and compliment the space!


A photo or two in a book case, on a chest of drawers or night stand is OK.  After all, you are still "living" in your home while it's listed.   I think if all personal items are removed a home might look too sterile and some buyers might think the home has a "cold" feeling!

2. Another area many times that house a lot of photos - The Refrigerator!
And not only photos, but magnets etc etc - Clean Off that Fridge!

 And while you are at it - if you store items on top of the fridge - clear those off too! 😬















Transform your home into a house that a buyer focuses on the house, the space and the features!  Don't allow them to get distracted by photos that they don't see all your home has to offer!

Here is an example of a living space with just one photo - you see the space and not the family!

We hope this gives you a better prespective that we don't feel you have to completely strip your home of who lives there... but you should remove items/photos if they could/would be a distraction to potential buyers!  If you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them!

And if you are in need of a real estate professional 

that can also offer home staging!  

 The Schwark Team is the Team to choose!

Transformation Tuesday and Home Staging!

The Schwark Team thought a great way to share ideas gleaned through Kristen's Home Staging Designation would be do Transformation Tuesdays on our FB page!  

Transformation Tuesday, or should I type #transformationtuesday... has been a "thing" on social network for some time now!  There are some transformations in a home that can be simple and can add appeal to potential buyers of your home! 

As an avid reader, Kristen cannot to say one can have too  many books... however, one can have too many books when trying to sell a home! 

Overstuffed bookshelves can be a distraction and can look a bit cluttered.  Bookshelves and bookcases with DVDs old Disney VHS tapes, Video Games, Paperbacks etc can unfortunately look like an unused wasteland of forgotten items!  

While we understand people "live in their homes", some of that living can be a distraction to the beauty of your home when it's listed!   As you can see from the photo - this space has A LOT going on!  Imagine a prospective buyer walking into this den.  What would they see?  

Even a more sophisticated space can prove to have too much!  

                                            While organized... there is A LOT going on here! 

Boxing up paperbacks, DVDS, toys, electronics can clean things up.  Adding vases/art a few pictures along with strategically stacked books gives bookcases a clean, organized look while drawing the focus to the bookcases and not the "stuff" in the bookcases!  

 Adding a clock, a few framed photos (we think it's fine to have a few family photos out when a home is listed) books stacked rather than lined up on a few shelves! 

Here is an example of not using books, but arranging art and photographs to fill built-in bookcases

Here is a nice way to organize your bookcases!  Utilize baskets to store items you NEED to have accessible when the home is listed!

Greenery always gives a nice feel... candles etc etc!

As Real Estate Home Staging Expert Certified, Kristen Schwark is happy to add her expertise to stage a home The Schwark Team lists for sale!  Not only is she able to utilize many of the homeowner's items, she also has items she can use to lightly stage vacant homes.  This is a service that will coincides with actually listing the home! 

Not wanting to sell, but would just like some professional advice?  Kristen can help you with organizing or staging the house you want to keep as your home!  

                                                         Kristen Schwark