Use your imagination!

It's 30 years since we bought this house and back then the estate only took a photo of the house from the front. Just one photo. There was of course a written description of each room which was considered enough. I'm glad we are not selling - I don't like the idea of everyone looking at all our rooms. Never mind the toilet rolls, just remember to hide your jewellery!!

The request to remove the toilet paper does seem a bit strange, but I agree with making surfaces as clear as possible. We bought a new house recently and the kettle, coffee machine and toaster were plugged in in a roll down cupboard so you never saw them out. It did make the kitchen look very swish and clean.
We always make the dogs sit in the car round round the corner when we are selling!
Hope you have success very soon. Your agent sounds as though he is doing his best.

Oh blimey, n&g, can't say we've had that experience and we've moved loads. The only thing the estate agent changed when taking pictures in our previous home was the bright yellow rubber gloves on the draining board. Could understand that. . We only moved four years ago, so not that long. I can understand the sense in removing Grace, we loved viewing a house with a dog but many people are anxious around them so that's sensible, boxing up your craft stuff is perhaps not necessary. I used one room in our last home for my office, very formally set up, its intended purpose was as a dining room, it was never suggested we put a table and chairs in there. One bedroom was Mr C's study, again it was never suggested we put a bed in there. It does all sound a bit over the top. I agree, television programmes have a lot to answer for. I hope this multi agency approach brings you a buyer speedily, you just need the right person. Hang on in there. It will happen.

Think people might actually be put off from buying a house where the occupants apparenly didn't splash out (no pun intended), on loo paper

We sold our house last year. The only thing we were asked to remove was the box of vitamin tablets in the kitchen. And that was only when the photographs were taken

I agree to an extent, Eloethan, but removing rugs, and all kitchen equipment including kettle and toaster does seem a bit extreme.

However I did look at the photos of one particular house online when I first thought of moving, and the photos were terrible! The tv was actually ON in the living room - Phillip Schofield could be seen in glorious technicolour!

It may seem silly but an uncluttered look is much more attractive to the majority of viewers - it makes somewhere look cleaner and more spacious. I think you are quite fortunate that your agents are taking this much care - many of them give no advice whatsoever. I have seen some terrible photos on websites and often wonder why people haven't been advised how to present their homes more effectively.

I do sympathise with you we are in the same position. House on the market, photos done but every time there is a viewing we wiz around tidying and hiding things. It's such a pain especially if it's an early morning viewing. Our agents luckily do the viewings so we just disappear but leave the cat to give us a report, so far he's not much use. Keep telling myself it will be worth it. Good luck to you.

You could perhaps buy display only toilet rolls N&G to match bathroom decor! There are some wonderful colours out there but don't buy the black!!
www.myrenova.com

When house hunting I look at the picture of the house, room size and floor plan. After that everything else is immaterial. Most people will redecorate a house from top to bottom within a couple of years of buying it. All I am interested in is whether the rooms are a satisfactory size and are doors/windows/cupboard so arranged that I can get the furniture I want in the room into it.

As far as animals are concerned I am not bothered by pets in a house even though I am not an animal person, when people move out they usually take their animals with them. What would put me off is smells, whether of cigarettes or dogs because houses usually come with carpets and curtains and if they smell the only thing you can do is replace them.

I know it is like a state of suspended animation while you are trying to sell your house but full marks to the agent in trying to get the best possible photos. Unfortunately because agents know that buyers flick very quickly down the lists of properties for sale on-line they know that buyers can reject houses within a few seconds if the photos are not appealing. I would definitely take your agents advice and de-clutter, frustrating though it is. At least it gives it the best possible chance.
Good luck with the sale.

Sorry, forgot to say hope it is not too much longer before you have a buyer. Not pleasant being on a permanent state of readiness, bet the dog wonders what he's done wrong too.

Apparently Ana if the toilet roll is the picture the eye is drawn to it ..... I'm not entirely sure why that's a problem . Can't be many people who don't know what it is and what it's for in the UK!

Thank you for confirming I'm not alone ..... for now my craft room stays ! And so do the toilet rolls!

I bought this bungalow last autumn. It had been uninhabited for quite a while as the old couple had gone into care nearer their children. It was left furnished, to look as if it was still in use, and to make it look right. And the family were keeping checks on it.
In the end, I took on some of the furniture as it already had a place, wardrobes particularly, and my old house had all been fitted.
Also they left the conservatory furniture too. I wouldn't have wanted to see an empty house, in fact I rejected one I did see because it wasn't a home.

So that's why I haven't been able to sell my house - toilet rolls on display...!

Have you thought of going the whole hog and moving to rented accommodation for the duration? (Joke). Find it hard to believe that people cannot visualise a house as their home if there is so much as a tea towel on display. Is it just a younger person's expectation or are we all going the same way?

At this rate N&G you will be hiring another garage to hold all of the extras that the estate agent want you to remove.

I would be happy to see Sam and all of his bedding but I appreciate that not everybody does but I think it ridiculous removing loo rolls and towels from bathrooms etc.

I have seen some house programmes on TV and my first thought was where do they store paperwork and does nobody read a book or a magazine here? To me it is not a home if the front room houses a couple of chairs and a TV.

I think TV programmes have a lot to answer for here. They always get people to show houses in pristine condition even to the extent of hiring furniture.
I can understand the pet thing, not everyone likes animals and their detritus. I can also understand removing tea towels etc from the pictures. As for the rest a house needs to be a home first and last.
I am one of those people who lack vision, find it hard to envisage a house after work is done or a room having a different use from the one presented.
Don't let it get you down NanaandGrampy, this too will pass. Look at the long term and a great life in a new house.
Good luck

It would drive me bonkers too N&G but I think it's the norm.
A house that is exactly the same as ours in our road has gone on the market so naturally we have been nebbing on the estate agent's website.
The house has hardly any furniture! And yet it's a family home. I think it's because the estate agents think that's what (presumably younger) propsective buyers want.
I dread the day

Sheesh, we've moved twice and never been asked to do that and, no, we've never had any difficulties. I wouldn't do it personally. You're probably doing the right thing with the dog, although we looked at houses with dogs and weren't put off. Some people may be though.
I'd just remove clutter, make beds etc, but you probably already do that. Any viewers may be glad to see a kettle, especially if it's recently boiled and accompanied by a couple of a mugs.
Just remembered that we viewed one house which was absolutely pristine, plastic runners on the carpet and we were asked to walk only on them, plastic covers on the furniture etc, basically no signs of normal life at all, apart from the lady who followed us closely to make sure we didn't touch anything (we are quite clean people, but can't guarantee to be absolutely germ free) ... we didn't buy it!

When we went house hunting I always liked to see that the house was lived in and was a home not just a building.

When we sold our last house we had the usual viewings when I rushed around making sure everything was just so, then someone turned up unexpectedly, a neighbour had told them the house was for sale, I was in the middle of doing the washing, the house was fairly tidy but obviously looked lived in - they were the ones who bought the house!