Moving Soon - Should I Pack Up Everything Now??


I am getting ready to list my house. The photographer is coming tomorrow to take pictures for the listing. 

What is the consensus on if I should pack up everything so they are no in the photos. I listen to my system every night and really do not want to but I get the security aspect of things. I am home all day every day if that matters.

Two monoblocks, Wilson WATT/Puppies, streamer, DAC, Preamp.

I guess I could pack things up for the pictures and then bring them back out, but that would be a PITA.

Thoughts on this?

zerofox

I suppose it would depend on what the housing market is like in your particular part of the country, as well as how much lag time there would be between the sale and your actually moving out.

If it's slow and there is a high probability of an extended delay, I would suggest just moving your components out of camera range, take your pictures and then move everything back.

@zerofox  Any good realtor will tell you a "well staged" house looks best in the pictures, can increase the value and make the sale faster. IMHO your system is easy on the eyes and adds value. I have seen many rooms that should be packed up beforehand.

Recently I put my own house under contract. I took photos with the equipment (on the main floor) and wrote on the listing that all AV equipment is excluded from the sale and that the walls will be restored to their original condition. In the basement, I did not do photos of HT on purpose since all of that isn't staying, and I did not want to draw attention to that and avoid displaying the excessive equipment. I had zero issues with the buyers on the subject; everything was clear from my listing.

 

As a suggestion, get an IP Camera that records 24/7 and install to cover your equipment. Advise the agent to have the buyers sign the appropriate form (consent to video/audio recording).

Then there’s the packing… it’s very easy to underestimate the time needed and to pack what you want to pack not the movers. 
Start packing early. Esp if you have plans for internal wall wiring…

Photograph everything before you let people in your home.

Install a cam above is a solid idea.

Run some nice quiet music in the background to create a memorable experience?
 

;-)

I would leave the equipment, IF it is a nice organized setup.

Gives an idea of the size, how the room can be used

Gives an idea about 'the seller' i.e. cares about this and PROBABLY cares about the quality of other stuff, might influence me to go see that house, thus increasing your # of potential buyers, perhaps just the right one!

btw,

when I shoot equipment to sell, I often let my system be blurred but included in the background, view other side with artwork, books blurred in background: IOW, this item comes from a quality household. I think it helps.