The problem with 'neutralising' your home.

STOP! Don't start packing away all your knick-knacks ready for that viewing you've got coming up!

Don't remove your personality from your home.

If you watch property programmes on TV, or if you have recently had your house valued, you may have heard the presenter or the estate agent talk about 'depersonalising' your property. The idea of making sure you present your house as a blank canvas, using neutral colours and toning down your own style. And it makes sense doesn't it? Allow the people viewing your home to see the space in a stripped back way so they can imagine their own style over the top. Or perhaps it eliminates the risk of a potential buyer being put off by some stylistic or design choices they don't like it? Right? No.

I totally disagree with this idea.  You have a personality, and so does your house. Do not be afraid to show it off. I appreciate this might be a contentious issue and I can see why people offer this advice. But...hear me out!

When potential buyers walk inside your house, they normally know within the first two or three minutes whether they like your house or not. People will often buy houses on emotion and not necessarily logic.  Does the house feel homely? Your attempt to follow the advice and offer a stylistically sterile home could back fire and feel cold and stark.

I want to see pictures and family photos around the house, I want to see books and magazines as it creates a sense of warmth, a sense of belonging and of a life and home being enjoyed. I want your house to stand out; if you depersonalise your house it can become generic and no different from any other. I want your house to stand out and be memorable, as people often view several houses all in one day and if you are not careful, all the bland houses merge as one.

It can also help draw attention to and remind potential buyers of elements they're attracted to. Those unusual ornaments you picked up on your travels? They might highlight the space available for all the family photos, or children's trophies a family wants to showcase.

I always like to talk to potential clients about how we might highlight aspects of their home, and this helps to provide a focus for my professional photographer to capture when we next visit.

This doesn't mean don't have a clean, a de-clutter, or a freshening up of decor - please do all of these small chores to make your home appealing and tidy - just don't wipe away all traces of individualism or personality at the same time!

Feel free to get in touch for a no obligation, confidential chat if oyu're thinking of moving home.