Hey I went into my marriage with eyes wide open. My better half -- actually I call her Mrs. Three-Quarters since my relative worth to the partnerhip rarely exceeds 25% -- is a trained Interior Designer with years of Architectural drafting experience.
I concede decisions about decorating to Mrs. Lenza. A husband has got to know his limitations. 
Ah, but I have one sweet success on my domestic resume. My green leather recliner that I nicknamed the Hulk! The Missus is a recliner snob, truth be told. One of her favorite missives is that furniture should not have metal hinges. Or handles. Or ejector mechanisms.
The Hulk is a sturdy piece of furniture engineering, made in the U.S. of A.
But my recliner has some scratch marks (dogs), fading (exposed to the sun) and a faint scent of beer (celebrating Giants' Super Bowl victory). What if I was not a licensed real estate broker and needed help selling my own home?
Would a Professional REALTOR or Stager suggest my green recliner take a haitus while I marketed my home for sale?
Put my recliner in storage? Retire my loyal friend to the garage or (shudder) to the shed? That would be a tough decision. To sell my house or sell out my best bud. Selling a home is an uncomfortable lifestyle. I'd want my loyal chair beside me (or underneath me) for solace.
Besides, my recliner is the hottest seat in the house. My kids love to flop in it, straddle their legs over the arms. In the wee hours when I awake for a glass of water I'll find my Missus curled up in the Incredible Hulk watching MTV vintage 80's videos. Ssshhh. 
Honey, I won't tell the posse down at Linen N' Things.
Your secret is safe with me.
If a client has a loved possession in their home, I say let them love it. We can always explain to prospective buyers that the radiant pink inflatable couch does not come with the home. Unless they absolutely must have it. Righteous.
We represent buyers and sellers of condos, single family homes and investment properties through most of Middlesex, Monmouth County real estate and Ocean County real estate. 
You can call Andrew at (732) 431-9003 or email me or visit me at my company website.
Andrew J. Lenza, ABR GRI MBABroker/Owner
ANDREW J. LENZA REALTY
73 State Highway 34 Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Office Telephone (732) 431-9003
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Broker/Owner of my own company, specializing in Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Fair Haven, Freehold, Holmdel, Howell, Marlboro, Manalapan, Matawan, Middletown, Red Bank, Rumson, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls, Wall
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Andrew, That's so funny and TRUE, people are so attached to their recliners...and yes, I believe they have to go :)
Let it stay. In fact, invite a prospective buyer to have a seat and relax in it while they're touring. IMO, as long as a house is clean and not cluttered, I can show anything and help my buyers focus on room sizes, service tags, etc.
Furniture doesn't bother me at all. Or, the lack of furniture doesn't bother me.
Mr. Lenza - I'm a big 'chair' guy so before retiring The Hulk into never-ever land, it might not be a bad idea to ship it down here to Allentown. It's tough to let go of possessions that are dear to us in some way, while it may not be 'Cosmetically Ideal' to have them around when trying to sell your home...it is what makes a home a home. I say let them stay, imagine how much better the house will look once you buy it and The Hulk is nowhere to be found:-)
I second Jason's motion. Your chair helps make your house a home. Good post. Thanx
Andrew - Everything is relative. I had a client that had two recliners that they loved. The only problem is that not only did they look hideous, the material was worn and I think because of this looked quite dirty. I suggested that they put a slip cover over it. Yet, it is a touchy subject and you have to be careful and tread lightly.
If the Hulk would prevent a sale on the house, It was not meant to be. I personally think its a fine looking chair. I'd be proud to kick back in it and drink a beer.
Way to stand your ground!!
Andrew, I would place a small table next to the chair and put on them your property disclosures and any other info you would want a buyer to have to invite them to sit in it and get comfy :-)
Chairs like that have life and personality and history. Keep it there!
Andrew......my that chair looks mighty comfy....if an owner has a prized possession it should stay in their home...after all it is their home! Clean and de-clutter ... sure, but always remember that the family still lives there : )
Carole, you would vote to kick the Hulk to the curb? What's the Chinese character for betrayal? ;)
Lenn, I'm with you. The furniture does not come with the house unless the buyer wants to make a separate offer with a Bill of Sale.
Andrew, I just love the way your mind works. We're selling homes for people to live in, not pages of a home magazine. If the house is clean and not overly crowded (if you don't have to crawl over the recliner to get to the rest of the house, or edge your way between it and a sofa), I say let it stay.
Sometimes just a little furniture rearranging will solve the problem (if it IS a problem), as well.
And it's always possible that the recliner will MAKE the sale to the man of the house.
When it comes time to sell your house, I think a stager could most definitely "work" withthe chair (and its green-ness). A soft throw over the arm and a nice throw pillow could do the trick! I am with your wife--the only recliners that I find acceptable are ones that are disguised as a regular chair.
Andrew - I have three delightfully pink flamingos that once graced a clients front yard. They would only remove them if they knew that they would find a good home. Call me crazy, but they adorn my patio out back and I think of the clients every time I see them.
Not quite a recliner.......but.......you gotta do what you gotta do.
LOL! Yes, this was literally a LOL post! Thanks for that. But I'm with your wife on this one. I'm a recliner snob. Those darn things never look right with the rest of the decor, no matter how hard you try! But thankfully, we are a recliner-free house! =D But then, if you read my last post, about the Boat Show, you understand why ;)
Lose the recliner. It's too Archie Bunker (although his didn't recline, that I noticed). While perfect as your own, it screams "MINE!" (I own one). Lenn is just trying to annoy the homeowner for leaving it there- strangers in "MY" recliner would give me nightmares. MINE. Safe and bundled in storage. Keep your*%& outta my chair. What a great post, Andrew- thank you!
Hey Andrew,
Just the beer from the Giants Super Bowl win makes it a collectable......it looks great next to the fireplace. You thinking of moving south?
Dick Beals
May I suggest a nice slipper chair? Recliners are, ummm.. well, ..... green and stuff.
A wise man (guy?) named Lernza once said "A husband has got to know his limitations." This should be written into wedding vows!
Andrew: All you guys love chairs with ejector mechanisms, and my husband would be a great fan of your chair... in fact, he's been begging me for one and I think I will give in. I might ask you to get some leather cleaner if the beer smell was noticeable... you wouldn't have to remove it though. I'm with Lenn. Let a prospective buyer sit in it and get 'em a beer.
What a relic...I haven't seen anything like that since I was a kid and my great grandmothers doctor had that same furniture in his Brooklyn office....it was scary looking at that in the dark.
Hi Andrew,
I say a man's house is his castle and I think the chair is your throne.
Well, it's certainly not the worst chair I've ever seen (although I will never allow a recliner in my house). I'm going with the general consensus of if the house is clean and clutter free, it gets to stay. If it's dirty and old Cheetos are peeking out from under the cushions, then it's a goner. Perhaps you can send it to J Mac and it could hang with the flamingos :)
I can't say there is anything I am attached to in that way, though my kids have a few objects of affection that it would be hard to replace or remove if we were selling a house. As far as your chair, my parents have one just like it, except more worn than yours. My siblings and I love that chair and have claimed dibs on it should our parents ever decide to part with it. If your chair is half as comfy as theirs, then I can understand your attachment.
Andrew, I love your post. I'm with you selling a home is stressful enough if someone has a big attachement to a green hulk then I'm going to sell the home around the hulk.
I've always had a soft spot for recliners since I was a kid. That ejector
seat was fun. Your's is not too bad looking, I was expecting something like Frazier's Dad's hideous monster, or like this beauty.
Andrew- I bet it doesn't match anything in your home does it? My wife toldme that I could decorate the yard, not the interior of our home. I think she is 90% here.
I guess "it depends." This weekend I was showing coops. There was one unit that was very spacious, but the sellers had "big furniture" all over the place - Ironically, there was a recliner that really blocked the flow of traffic and made the place look a lot smaller. SOMETHING needed to go. Not necessarily the recliner - it made the place look small when it wasn't. In a larger home, I don't think it matters. But in a place where space is at a premium - it matters.
Gee, my husband has the same problem! He loves his chair. It's actually similar to yours. If I happen to be sitting in it when he comes around, I have to get out of "his" chair.
So what does the rest of the furniture look like? Although this post made me laugh, it is a serious and sometimes hard to approach issue when talking to sellers. Furniture doesn't usually get picked on by me, but the arrangement of the furniture may.
Jason, When I'm done with "him" I'll strap the Hulk down, sedate him and ship him in a box truck to Allentown.
Joan, Thanks for backing me and the Hulk up.
Marc, I like the slip cover idea. The beauty of compromise.
Linen's & Things Andrew? I pictured your wife as one of the Saks 5th Avenue crowd. ;o) I lost my battle for my bachelor recliner about 18 months after I was married. I'm proud to see you have more influence with your significant other.
Andrew - I have to agree about letting that one piece remain, but if it is a whole bunch of clutter, it needs to be reduced - a warm chair by the fireplace - now THAT is special and makes me think of hot chocolate, warm cookies and a good book!!!!
OMG, Andrew!!! Too funny!
I have my Grandmother's favorite chair and foot stool that is "my chair" and my friends know thou doth not sit in "Karen's" older than dirt chair!!!
It is ugly lemon yellow, lime green, and tan...I guess my grandmother had one to many glasses of wine when she picked out this chair...then again...she passed almost 9 year's ago...
I have the chair here in South Florida...all I miss is that nice fireplace that it used to sit next to...:-)
I just love your blog... sometimes, I don't get the change to comment and I steal a read, smile and run off to work. This one, in particular, is just great! And, I cannot agree more...if you cannot get past the decor then...move on! And, the hulk is...after all... a mighty fine piece of furnature indeed.
Men will understand - Women on the other hand, I'm not so sure.
One piece of furniture is easy to explain, but when you have a complete house like that it really needs to go! (Same with pink walls)
Greg, My Missus is a semsible woman. Saks? Not her style.
Karen, I think your Grandmother would appreciate you still have her chair and so enjoy it.
Pamela, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the Hulk is a stoic brute.
Larry, How do I respond to your comment without alienating at least one half of Active Rain (women)? Hmmm.
Todd, I think too much of anything is not a good thing.