One of the most common questions from home sellers is, “do I really need to put my family pictures away”? The short answer is “yes,” but maybe not for the reasons you assume. The general principle is that buyers need to be able to visualize their own lives in the home in order to buy the house. There is nothing new about this, but in this complicated age of security challenges, there are also safety reasons to remove your items before showings.

10 Things to Remove (Ideally before photos are taken for listing your home).

1. Excess Furniture – Consider removing extra chairs, ottomans, side tables, etc., and anything unnecessary.

2. Family Photos – You do not know who is coming through your home; protect your family by removing any identifiable pictures, awards, certificates, etc.

3. Religious Art/Collectables – Some people may be offended by these kinds of items. Better to avoid issues.

4. Laptops and Cell Phones – Anything easily picked up and removed should be safely stowed.

5. Jewelry – Again, anything of value should be secured out of sight.

6. Important Files and Papers – Hide any papers that may have banking or social security numbers that can be used for fraudulent purposes.

7. Firearms – Protect yourself and others by securing any firearms.

8. Clutter – Nothing new here, keep the home clean.

9. Half of All Décor – Think about removing about half of any decorative items such as pillows, vases, books, etc.

10. Pets – Keep your pets safe and away from visitors.

If you’re ready to start showing your home, taking a little time to depersonalize can not only help your buyers see the potential of the home for their lives but protect yourself and your family as well.