Remove every family photo, personal award, and piece of memorabilia from your walls and shelves — including any doll or figurine collections. Specifically, the most important thing in a buyer’s walkthrough is their ability to imagine themselves living in the space. Additionally, when your family’s identity is displayed throughout every room, that imagination gets crowded out by someone else’s life. Furthermore, packing these items away is not personal — it is strategic, and it directly improves the likelihood that buyers connect emotionally with your home.

Remove all school photos, report cards, kids’ drawings, and magnets from the refrigerator exterior. Specifically, the fridge surface is one of the most personal spots in any home — and buyers notice it immediately when they walk into the kitchen. Additionally, a clean refrigerator exterior gives the kitchen a cleaner, more neutral look that photographs better and feels more move-in ready to buyers walking through.

Move all exercise equipment, toys, and play items out of the living room and family room. Specifically, treadmills and weight benches in a living room instantly signal a space that has been repurposed — and buyers struggle to see it as a welcoming living area when fitness gear is present. Additionally, children’s toys can be moved to bedrooms and stored in organized bins — a presentation that still shows the home is family-friendly while keeping the main living areas clean and spacious.

Remove any items — inside or outside the home — that could be politically charged, religiously specific, or otherwise polarizing to buyers. Specifically, the goal is to appeal to the widest possible audience of potential buyers, and that means presenting a neutral canvas rather than a personal statement. Additionally, this applies to yard signs, bumper stickers visible through windows, artwork, and any item that could cause a buyer to feel uncomfortable or disconnected from the space.

Repaint any fluorescent, neon, or aggressively bold room colors with neutral tones — gray, beige, or any soft, soothing palette. Specifically, nobody wants to walk into a fluorescent pink or green room and try to imagine their furniture in it. Furthermore, the last thing a buyer wants to think about is having to repaint an entire house before they move in — and bold colors communicate exactly that extra work. Additionally, neutral paint is one of the cheapest and highest-impact improvements available before listing, often costing just a few hundred dollars per room.

If your home is listed during a holiday season, keep decorations tasteful and minimal. Specifically, avoid inflatable yard decorations, excessive figurines throughout the home, and over-the-top seasonal displays. Additionally, a few simple, elegant touches signal that the home is cared for and welcoming — while heavy holiday decoration makes rooms feel smaller, more cluttered, and harder for buyers to evaluate clearly.

Clear the bathroom of toothbrushes, blow dryers, curling irons, body spray, hairspray, cologne, and all other personal grooming items before every showing. Specifically, a bathroom cluttered with personal items reads as someone else’s private space — the opposite of what a buyer needs to feel. Additionally, use a basket or bag to store these items and carry them out quickly before showings, keeping the bathroom looking clean, spacious, and ready for new owners.