Selling house but don’t want nursery photos

[Mum135794]

We’re looking to sell our small 3 bedroom house. I’m a first time mum and don’t feel comfortable having photos of the nursery put online for everyone to see or sharing that there is a child in the house. The estate agent says it will drastically decrease the interest in the house as people will wonder why the photo’s not there and to think of it as a buyer looking. When I have looked at other houses though and photos are missing it doesn’t bother me, I just check the floor plan to see.
The rest of the house is done up nicely so it’s not like we would have a nice house the rest and then a terrible third room?
We are in a highly sort after area where viewings will only be available to people who are either sold or proceed able and our house is perfect for first time buyers or small families to get in to the area.
Am I being over protective? Please help! Thanks

What are your actual concerns though? Lots of children live in lots of houses. I actually think you're being ridiculous on the face of it but you've not really said what it is you are worried could happen.

Thats very weird.

Yes!
Leave basic furniture so there's a sense of scale, and remove any personal items, photos etc.
Estate agents can blur out photos on walls, tables, etc.
If you have a name stencilled on a wall in the nursery, paint over it.

Take no notice of the EA. It's up to you and don't be bullied into anything.

It really isn’t bullying for an estate agent - for whose expertise you are paying - to suggest it might be a good idea to show every room in the house on the particulars.

I don’t understand why you’d be so concerned about this?

What’s the difference between a nursery and older kids bedroom? Or your bedroom or bathroom?

Surely your baby has been naked in the bath many times and has likely slept in your bedroom with you too - are you concerned about these areas too?

I can’t wrap my head around why you’d wouldn’t want to take photos.

I’m guessing it’s because it’s the smallest room and you think it would put off potential buyers, rather than any actual privacy concerns.

Ahh, I was thinking about personal pics.
Got it.

Back in 2014 we had an EA who sent round a professional photographer but told us after the event that they only ever used eight photos taken by them - it was a contractual arrangement they had with the photographer.

This was a fairly large (2500 sq ft), five-bed house with huge kitchen/diner, three reception rooms, three bathrooms and a lootility...plus 0.3 acre garden. So really difficult to show everything in just eight photos!

The house and garden were fully renovated and we didn't want to give the impression there were rooms with issues so we insisted they use additional photos taken by us. If they'd refused, we wouldn't have used them. Iirc we ended up with a total of around twenty photos on our listing.

I do think it's odd to not want photos of the DC's room online @Mum135794, as other posters have said there are loads of nursery photos on RM/Zoopla etc and predators/paedophiles aren't going to be trawling these sites looking for potential victims, imo.

However, best thing is just remove all signs of DC for the EA photos, then put these back afterwards. Not sure how you'll deal with viewings, though...

I also just remembered when we were selling another house in 2007 and our EA (not the same one as above as different parts of the UK) said they didn't like to photograph every room, however large the property (ours had 14 rooms).

Their reasoning was that the photos should tantalise potential buyers sufficiently to get them to arrange a viewing. Photos of every room would leave no reason to view the house...which in retrospect seems odd as if the property was amazing - and the photos showed this - surely you'd be more inclined to view/buy it?!?

Times - and expectations - have definitely changed!

I think the agent is just trying to scare you, they want to make their life as easy as possible to get the most commission with the littlest amount of work. So improving their odds like having photos of all rooms is important for them, and scaring you that your house won’t sell or the sale will fall through is their main tactic for ushering the sale along.
if I wanted a house and the whole house looked nice and was in a good area and the right price, I wouldn’t not book a viewing because I couldn’t see a picture of one of the rooms.

I do think you’re being anxious though to be worrying about this but if it makes you more comfortable to not show the nursery just don’t show it.

What on earth are you imagining, that child kidnappers spend time checking Rightmove to target their next victim?

OP, most people have children. It’s not a protected characteristic or a rare decision. The chances are that most people looking for three-bed houses are either already parents or planning to be.

I’m looking at the moment. It’s very annoying when I room is in the layout and description but no photos. Not a dealbreaker but I’d wonder what was wrong with the room (damp? Hideous wallpaper? What)?
Who cares if there’s a kid in the house - any casual observer would know you have one. It will be fine!

Just remove identifying stuff if you're worried. Think about it, we don't go through life hiding all evidence of our children 'just in case' - it's not like we have to keep where children live a secret.