I'm a Realtor.

It's about two things - de-personalizing the house, and securing your valuables.


I don't care what it is - guns, moose mounts or your doll house collection... get it out of the house. Take your family photos off the wall. The more buyers are looking at you and the way you live, the less they're imagining themselves living there.

To my second point... if an agent wants to book a showing, you have no idea who their client is. Prescription drugs out of the medicine cabinet, guns out of the house or secured (I don't care if there's a safe, but you wouldn't believe how many guns lying out I've seen).

If you want to make sure your house doesn't sell... be there when potential buyers come through. It's a totally different experience going through the house when the owner is there, and it's never positive.

...and as far as Realtors go, I'm inclined to agree with some of the negative rap we get. The 80/20 rule applies to Realtors just like everywhere else.

I will say being self employed and never again having a boss is pretty freakin' cool.