“When buyers go in, they want to imagine themselves in the house,” says Zaragoza Guerra, a stager and an agent at Tony's Realty in East Boston. “They get distracted with personal pictures and objects.”

Pack away items that express your unique personality and interests, and place the boxes in the attic or in storage. If you have such a passion for Beanie Babies that they cover your bed and dresser and window seat, store all but one or two of them until your house is sold.