9 Items to Remove When Selling Your Home

From forgotten mail to political decor, these small details could cost you a sale.
9 Items to Remove When Selling Your Home
First impressions matter—buyers often form opinions within the first few seconds of entering a home. The Good Brigade/Getty Images
Anne Johnson
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Are you selling your house? Before you list it, there are some items that you should consider removing from the house before any prospective buyers enter. That doesn’t mean you need to gut the house of all personality, but it’s best to remove certain items in the house that could deter a sale or pose a risk.

Private Papers and Mail

Most people will toss their mail and bills on the table or counter when they enter their home. But if you have a showing, you need to put those documents away.

They give the area a cluttered look and can also be a security risk. Not everyone touring your home is there legitimately. When your real estate agent isn’t looking, pictures could be taken of your documents that could be used to steal your identity.

Anne Johnson
Anne Johnson
Author
Anne Johnson was a commercial property & casualty insurance agent for nine years. She was also licensed in health and life insurance. Anne went on to own an advertising agency where she worked with businesses. She has been writing about personal finance for ten years.