5 Items to Hide When Showing Your Home for Sale

I don’t like the idea of people I don’t know walking through my house.

Or rummaging through my drawers, pantry, closet during a showing.

When your house is for sale, you accept the fact that open house events and private showings allow strangers access to your home. Total strangers will be opening the doors under your sinks, exploring the built-in cabinets in your living room, glancing through your closet, and accessing your refrigerator. Showings made me extremely nervous as a home seller for many reasons, but having my privacy intruded upon by strangers honestly freaked me out, a little bit. Ahead of a showing, I would hide or pack personal items that I didn’t want them to see.

Having attended private showings and open houses on many occasions, I have noticed that some people don’t take the intrusion on their privacy seriously. Spring is coming soon, and with it, open house season. In preparation for a busy and fruitful selling season, I recommend that you hide these five items from view when showing your home for sale. Please do this for your safety, and to prevent potential buyers from profiling you. Wouldn’t you prefer that your home were purchased by someone who knows very little about you? I certainly would.

1. Personal photographs & portraits

Ok, so I’m on realtor.com frequently. I’m also located in the South, and I see too many people who leave formal portraits of their children hanging for marketing photos. I assume that the portraits are left hanging for showings as well.

While the portraits may be expensive, I advise you to take them down from the initial marketing photos through the final sale. Your children may be lovely, but potential buyers don’t want to be reminded that the house belongs to someone else. When a buyer walks into a home, they need to imagine themselves and their children living in your home. That is difficult when a family beach portrait is hanging on the dining room wall.

Take down all personal photographs as well. I attended a local open house and noticed that the seller had photos of their very beautiful young daughters placed in most of the rooms. You can’t control who comes in for an open house, and you don’t know them. Don’t be naive; there are creeps in our communities, and you don’t want to potentially put your children on display for someone with evil intentions.

2. Religious items

I am an unapologetic Christian, but I would not leave religious items out for an open house. When you are having an open house or a showing, your goal is to market the home to the greatest number of potential buyers possible, to increase the odds of making a sale. Religious items, like it or not, inspire strong emotions in people. Be smart and don’t alienate potential buyers.

3. Pet bowls & toys

Are you a dog or a cat person? Or do you prefer hamsters or snakes? You may find it difficult to believe, but some people don’t like indoor animals. Others are allergic, and might walk straight out of your cat house when they see the kitty litter box beside the front door. When you leave for a showing, take your pet(s) and all of their gear with you. And take a few minutes to clean up their hairballs on the way out.

4. Collectibles

My grandparents were awesome, but they kept curio cabinets full of tea cups, toothpick holders, and collectible figurines all over their house. They even had a curation of clown dolls on display in their home. A potential buyer with coulrophobia* would run–not walk–away from the property.

*fear of clowns

You have spent a lifetime collecting the items that you hold dear: stamps, spoons, plates, dolls, coffee cups, license plates, Americana memorabilia, sports momentos. Aren’t you getting ready to move soon? Well, right now is a great time to start packing up. Pack your collectibles. You can store the boxes in the attic, garage, or a storage unit, but your collections will be unlikely to resonate with most rational buyers.

5. Diplomas, certificates & awards

Good for you if you have earned a diploma, certificate, or an award! You worked hard for what you earned, and you’re proud of your accomplishment! You should be. Don’t expect a stranger to share your enthusiasm.

Please put away these very personal items. Your name, as well as other personal information such as degree obtained or place of education are on these. Keep that information private, out of the nosy eyes of open house visitors. Identity fraud is a real thing. Keep your personal details personal.

Bonus: Bras, underwear, bedside commodes, and anything lewd or offensive

You’re thinking, are you serious? Who would leave anything like that out during a showing?!

I have seen all of these on full display during house showings! One bathroom shower curtain rod featured a full array of lacy bras and ladies’ underwear. Another bathroom (different house) featured a hospital-grade bedside commode seat, personal wipes, and incontinence pads (cringe). I recall one more house where, in the home office, a large stained glass image of a topless mermaid sat propped up next to the electric massage chair. Nice.

One might wonder what kinds of neighborhoods I’ve been cruising around in, right?

Seriously. Pack up your personal items. Put the smutty artwork, books, and magazines away. No one wants to know that much about you.

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Until next time, take care!