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Nothing wrong with being gay. But some people think there is, so if you want to have a larger pool of potential buyers just lose the photos that would indicate your gay.
It's just common sense if you don't want to alienate anyone.
If you don't want to sell your house to anyone who might be anti-gay then leave the photos up.
..............I suspect that the OP's wording of the question is a way of bringing unnecessary attention to his or her sexual orientation, which is completely irrelevant.
The way I saw it was that OP was asking if his orientation was relevant or not. I assume because he has limited experience with selling a house and is hoping to maximize the sale. If he'd already known whether or not it is an issue with buyers, he wouldn't need to ask. But he didn't know whether or not it is completely irrelevant.
No different than asking us all if his friend's advice to repaint the purple kitchen was good advice. Or wondering if reseeding the lawn was necessary.
People who don't sell a lot of houses can be uncertain about what buyers want.
I was told to take down all family photos because the idea is for a prospective buyer to see HIS/HER family in the house. Don't think it has anything to do with sexual orientation.
I am a former real estate agent as is my wife. We have also sold 8 of our own homes. Whether straight or gay is not the issue. You want to de-personalize your home so that the potential buyers can view it neutrally and not as your home. It is always advisable too remove family pictures and make the home as neutral as can be. It will sell faster as our did. Also have a pot of coffee going or as we used to do, buy a machine that makes scents to give the house a homey feeling like coffee or cookies baking.
Think if it this way. When you go to buy a car, would you buy one that has that new car smell or one with a baby seat and sweat smell to it? My wife is bi and we had pictures of her and her girlfriend along with some nudes, but we removed them and replaced them with scenic pictures. Stage your house to sell it. There is a lot of psychology involved in the sale off a house. Plus with people still prejudiced, why give them a reason not to buy. The way we looked at it, it was better to take their money and make a profit than make a statement that would never change their mind anyway.l
As a buyer I want to see a clean uncluttered house, not your personal pictures. If the house is well staged it gives me a good idea of what it will look like with my things. Or may give me ideas to get rid of some old things and buy new. Buying a home is like a dream for most people, you want it to look spacious, open, and clean looking.
Personally as a buyer, I couldn't care less about personal effects so you can leave them out. I don't need help visualizing without them. I already know they won't be there. The main thing is simply get rid of clutter so I can see what I'm buying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piney Creek
We were told to remove all family photos, as well as collections and anything that might in any way be controversial. Basically, anything that that reflects your personality can be distracting.
I know this is often recommended, but it's tough when your main stairway has all your pictures on it (more than 9 frames) and you have to take them down leaving nail/screws or screw holes in the wall. Is that what people end up with?
After you move, the new owner can deal with it, but at this point it's not sold yet... holes in the wall...
After you move, the new owner can deal with it, but at this point it's not sold yet... holes in the wall...
You point out one of the big problems with having lots of photos on a wall. I think someone else pointed this out, but it bears repeating: a buyer won't care what's in your photos, but if he sees a lot of photos on a wall he'll see it as a wall riddled with nail holes and reject your house for that reason. Better to take the photos down, repair the holes, and paint the wall.
Screw PC. I'm not here to be coddled. Please be honest.
We are a married gay couple. Will be selling house in a few months. Should we take down our pictures or leave them up for staging?
Again, please be honest.
Depends on if you care who you sell to. Do you care if someone with your values is next to live in your house? If so, leave them up. Would it go against your principles to sell to a bigot? If not, take them down.
Also what is your goal in selling? Making the most profit? A lot of conservative bigots have a lot of money and I could easily see them being turned off by your displayed relationship. If you want the most money and don't care who lives there, take them down.
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