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Rainmaker
2,390,681
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Not in our area. Hunting is an attraction to North Dakota for many hunters. As with anything else you can go ever the top with your trophies weather they be trophy hunting mounts, Precious Moments trinkets, or pictures of Victoria's Secret models.

Feb 27, 2020 05:58 AM
Ambassador
5,230,159
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I tell them they are selling the house and packing them up to move them so, let's go ahead and do that now!

Your buyer pool here (yes, even in the gun-toting South!) will be diminished by the heads.

Our mission is to sell the house, not memorialize the heads!

Feb 27, 2020 07:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes I do & I want them removed from the house or hidden with sheets covering them. Had this happen in my sisters house & you bet that all the buyers made a comment about them (giant bear).

Best to not offend as many as possible.

Feb 27, 2020 05:31 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Depends on the property, some hunting properties we ask for "proof of success" photos to share with the listing, and of course the other trophies are welcome in hunting camp as well.

For a residential home however these may not go over so well.

Feb 27, 2020 05:25 AM
Ambassador
2,436,470
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

We have a lot of that here, and I think it depends on the home. For example, I know one couple who has a head-free house, but the separate "man cave" has a bunch of them. That might be okay - buyers could be warned what to expect so they can steer clear of the separate building if needed. Here, the property would definitely sell even with heads.

Feb 27, 2020 05:25 AM
Rainmaker
5,217,427
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Anything that distracts from the focus on the home should be removed before professional photography. 

Feb 27, 2020 05:35 AM
Ambassador
3,126,213
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

You can ask but it doesn't mean the seller will comply. During Board tour, I walked through a house that had animal trophies in every room and while walking up the stairs, looking down, a mountain lion seemed to jump out of nowhere. Scared the bejeezus out of me!

It sold shortly after.

Feb 27, 2020 06:22 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,555
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Maybe.  How tasteful is the entire house?  does it work or does it distract.  I only advise on my thoughts.  

Feb 27, 2020 06:11 AM
Rainmaker
900,278
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

I would make that recommendation, yes, to expand the buyer base (or not to discourage anyone), but would not insist: up to the sellers and how quickly they want to sell.

Feb 27, 2020 05:20 AM
Rainmaker
805,939
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Yes I would depending on the home and location.  

Feb 27, 2020 06:54 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,620
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It's interesting to me that I read, then re-read, your question to see if I actually saw the term "regionally applicable used.  Hmm:  might this be some kind of subtle clue like they often cleverly include with a Jeopardy! answer.  Okay, too much thinking.

  I believe a home becomes a house and a product with the intention of selling so that is the goal.  Depersonalizing but not stripping a property is appropriate but real estate is a case-by-case decision-making process using previously proven selling strategies.  .  

Feb 27, 2020 05:59 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It depends, we have many second homes and hunter cabins in the north country where it is common. Buyer would actually prefer to see them. If it is in any other home, perhaps, but knowing it may upset the seller, a care full talk with the seller to see their feelings before asking anything,  

Feb 27, 2020 05:17 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Absolutely! It's all part of depersonalizing a home.

Feb 27, 2020 07:54 AM
Ambassador
1,453,069
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Not in my area: heads are the norm!  Come on Man, we're Canada; not for the squeamish!! 

Feb 27, 2020 07:04 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

I showed a house one time that was over-loaded with heads and stuffed dead animals...they even had a big carcass spread out on the dining table.

It was a royal turnoff...the buyer could not see the house for all the distractions.

I am an animal lover and it was disturbing...I admit, I hustled the buyers through very quickly.  This is Florida...the land of water and sunshine...

Eve

Feb 27, 2020 06:56 AM
Rainmaker
911,448
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Depends. If it fits the the theme of the property, they can probably stay. it could deter some potential buyers though.

Feb 27, 2020 06:45 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,303
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

In todays world of Real Estate the property and the deal is the focus however this could detract from it but then, it may not. Dicey comes to mind....

Feb 27, 2020 06:28 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

deer, bear, moose, exotic animals yes, I ask them to remove them.  However, trophy fish caught from the dock are welcome to stay.  I've never had a buyer be "offended" by mounted fish.

Feb 27, 2020 11:17 AM
Ambassador
3,345,237
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

YES. Why?  Many reasons. Depersonalizing and removing the clutter. Adding to that - regionally not common here. 

Feb 27, 2020 08:56 AM
Rainer
375,087
Libby Cousins
Extraordinary Processing - Spokane, WA
Contract Mortgage Processor, licensed in WA

I am with Fred Griffin Tallahassee Real Estate that anything in abundance should be pared down. 

Feb 27, 2020 08:52 AM
Rainmaker
693,775
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Yes!  A good friend tried to sell his beautiful home on acreage with a lake, absolutely gorgeous.  He had tropyies in the house, including his prized grizzly in the front room.  The house did not sell.  Was it just the bear?  His other trophies? Probably not, but it sure did not help.

Feb 27, 2020 08:31 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

"Abundance" of anything needs to be packed up.   

Feb 27, 2020 08:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,772
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

That sort of a home is rarely seen in my market area. Buyers are looking for new paint, new flooring, new counter tops, new cabinets...not animal heads.

Feb 27, 2020 09:35 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,922
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Absolutely, I present it as "depersonalizing" the home but thankfully haven't encountered that here yet. So far it's only been a occasional mounted trophy fish which fits right in with our beach lifestyle.

Feb 27, 2020 12:00 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hell yes.  Last year I showed a home with so many animal heads on the wall it was darn right creepy.  The living room looked like something out of Africa.

Buyers insisted on seeing it as it was the neighborhood they were trying to get into to.  Thankfully another home popped up and they bought that one instead.

Feb 27, 2020 10:57 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,548
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Yes.

Feb 27, 2020 10:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,321
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Ugh . . . yeap. No dead critters. 

BERY BERY BAD Feng Shui . . .

Feb 27, 2020 08:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,503,028
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I always advise sellers to de-personalize homes.  To me this question is no different than decorating for Christmas, Halloween or going all out for Easter.  I remind people that just because they like something, not everyone does and to sell for the most money possible, you need to appeal to the widest range of buyers.

Feb 27, 2020 08:28 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,689
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I had one listing where they had several, and asked if they could take most down.

Feb 27, 2020 02:06 PM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

Depends on the house.  Sometimes in a rustic cabin it looks better to leave it.  It's even conveyed with some homes we've sold.

Feb 27, 2020 01:57 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Anytime I am chatting to the owner of a themed house I need to ask if they want the home sold to 'like-minded' people.

For example, in your example, the owner may hope for buyers, new owners, to enjoy the house in the same fashion they have. They want those who can celebrate this life style to buy it. In this case that means doing everything possible to discourage the PETA crazies and keep PETAs away. If the PETA crazies are compelled to break the cycle, they overpay for the house.

If its a great child raising community, let the evidence of child raising overflow. Discourage those buying from their retirement account from taking another house away from the child raising community. 

If folks want to celebrate their ethnicity or preferences, I say go ahead. My observation and stats show buyers value a house with personality and devalue the real estate agent vanilla suggestions.  Those easily offended won't be good neighbors anyway.

Of course an agent must advise such 'preference' decor MAY reduce the number of buyers, but themed decor WILL make more clear the sellers intent which is,. "This is a TROPHY house for participants not for observers." Also, it provides 'something to talk about' regarding the house that will elevate interest if done artfully.  I've used 'The Rooster House," "Babe Ruth House," and 'The Cowboy House" for exactly those purposes. Just like great photography inspires us to entertain we can reach the top of the mountain, a themed house can inspire others towards that which seems out of reach. (Hint: it also allows the agent to control the context of the narrative regarding the house)

Feb 27, 2020 08:27 AM
Rainmaker
763,983
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I would let them know that a large portion of the population would be offended and the house would look better without anything mounted on the wall but it would most likely would need to be repaired.  I would let them decide what they wished to do at that point.

Feb 28, 2020 04:57 PM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

An abundance?  Yes.  We would have the discussion and roll from there. 

Feb 28, 2020 04:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Definitely, just as I would ask them to remove large personal photographs or wall decorations.

Feb 28, 2020 03:24 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Not in my area, big hunting, fishing area

Feb 28, 2020 02:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,544,068
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

If I'm in SoCal Yes. Oh yes!

If I'm in north-of-The Bay Area NorCal, nope!

Know your demographics, and stage to sell accordingly. Many people seek out opportunities to be offended rather than face the truths of their own lives. But, then again the decor leaves with the seller.

We're here to sell, not preach... I suppose...do what needs to be done to get the job done well.

Feb 27, 2020 09:33 PM