I recently had a Styling Evaluation appointment with a lovely family who had a gorgeous art collection depicting their African American heritage.
As I went about room-by-room recommending that we relocate a few of those pieces of art to more prominent places throughout the house–because the color, size and orientation were perfect–my client stopped me.
“I'm confused. I read somewhere that we shouldn't have anything in our staged house that represents our culture.”
I've been asked this before over the years but have never really let all y'all know what my philosophy is on cultural and religious items when staging. And I'm 99% sure that I don't go into detail on this in my e-book.
So, since I've got your rapt attention here ; ) I'm gonna share with you what I shared with her…
My Super Profound Thoughts On Cultural Items and Home Staging
In the staging process, we of course, are trying to make sure that the online listing photos appeal to our buyer demographic so that they want to book a showing. And, we want as many of your potential buyers to feel comfortable in your house as possible. But that doesn't mean completely erasing your identity to sell it.
We will always want to use your best art and accessories in the most important spaces.
Now, are there things that we will recommend packing or relocating to a less prominent place? Yes. But never is it because of the color of the faces in the art.
Guidelines I find helpful when using cultural items in home staging
- Large, prominent, overtly religious symbols in the first few rooms of the house should likely be packed away before photos and showings.
- A gallery wall of carved masks, religious items, swords, etc most often should be replaced by fewer larger pieces of art.
- Overtly religious imagery over the master bed should be replaced with something more neutral
- Shrines located in focal places in the home may need to relocated for photos
- Religious items placed over doors should be tucked away for photos and showings
I can feel you sweating at the thought of having this conversation with your clients so let me help you out…
How To Communicate What Should Be Packed Or Relocated?
This can feel super cringey when you first have to let people know that they will need to pack or relocate certain items. Goodness, my friend, has this girl been there! I used to delay, avoid and sometimes take the coward's way out and just leave it until the written report to let people know.
But then I had to put my grown-up pants on. And it really isn't that hard. And honestly, I feel more comfortable recommending people pack their religious or cultural items than I do letting them know that I can smell their animals in the house….yep, Oprah, I feel you on that one…
Set Expectations From The Beginning
Remember that it is our job to be “eyes of the buyer” and we would do our clients a disservice not to share when we think that cultural and religious items should be packed.
So let's just get it out there! From the moment a new client books an appointment, you can start that conversation. For us, it starts in the “Stage To Move” Support Bundle that we send to each new client.
In this bundle we provide all kinds of cool moving checklists, moving supplies shopping lists with links to all of the items at Amazon–very fun stuff!
And we also include a “What To Expect” document that shares some background on the appointment. It mentions that the client can dive in before our appointment if they want to and it lists packing away religious items. See…we didn't even have to say a word ourselves but we are setting the expectation. Hopefully, you are sighing with a little relief right now.
Emphasize The Importance Of Styling For Photos
At the beginning of each appointment, it is incredibly helpful to share the importance of listing photos and how they will drive traffic and offers when the house is styled correctly.
Explain what kinds of things photograph well and what things don't. Explain how you make your recommendations so that the photos capture a clear view of the best features of the rooms and sometimes that means a less-is-more approach to walls and surfaces.
When you matter-of-factly tell people that you are basing your recommendations on how rooms will be photographed and how people will feel when they come into the house for showing, they usually understand. But sometimes they don't and that's when you really have to just…
Release Expectations
The bottom line is this. It is up to the seller to ultimately decide if they want to follow your advice. It is ok–even if inadvisable–for your client to choose not to do what you recommend. It is merely your job to give your very best recommendations.
Ok! Over to you my dears. Would love your thoughts on cultural items home staging–even if you completely disagree with me!
xo,
Lori
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