Staging Your Home For Resale: Reality Edition
I recently read a great series of posts on one of my favorite blogs called The Nesting Place. It was all about staging your home for resale–basically, creative ways to make your house stand out over all the others when you’re trying to sell. I’ve been painstakingly making my way through my house, trying to incorporate all her suggestions.
The Nester is amazing. She can take scrap fabric, some dead flowers, rotten bananas and hot glue and make curtains. Unbelievable. Her motto is, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” That’ll preach, huh?
This is me meeting The Nester–live and in person at She Speaks. We totally hit it off. She’s super funny and very cute. I followed her into the elevator and then to her room. Basically, I stalked her, in a creepy overbearing way, but that’s sometimes the way I need to get people to talk to me. She looks a little scared here, doesn’t she. She’s clutching her purse. I think she’s getting ready to make a run for it.
Anyway, if you’ve been following my blog this summer, you know we have been out looking at houses, and houses, and houses. It’s our new family past time.
“No honey, you may not play football this fall. Or play with your friends–ever. It will conflict with our house-hunting schedule! Now, get in the car.”
There’s more truth to this than I care to admit.
And we are slowly, but surely getting our home ready to put on the market. Emphasis on slowly. But as I was decluttering yet another storage area the other day, I got to thinking: who really lives like this, anyway? I mean in the de-cluttered version of the home? The one “staged” for resale? Doesn’t “staged” by it’s very definition, imply that I’m ACTING?????
Aren’t we all–buyers and sellers alike–just ACTING???!!!??!!! For heaven’s sake, look at all that punctuation. Can you not discern the high pitch and loud volumes of my writing voice????!!!!!!!??????
Enough with the Fake House, already. I’m all about authenticity.
So on behalf of all potential homebuyers/sellers out in the world, and in honor of The Nester (whom I totally love, admire and adore), I want to propose a NEW trend in marketing a home for resale: Let’s call it Reality.
Now, if you will give me the honor of being your guide, let’s take a tour of my beautiful home, staged for REALITY.
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Everyone knows the heart of the home is the kitchen. If you cook and have a large family, great counter space is a must. But if you have a life outside the home, great counter space is even more valuable. In addition to regular kitcheny stuff (like that one decorative platter shoved back there), our counters can be used for anything from mail, to diaper bags, to beach bags, to stuffed animals to birthday gifts that need to be returned because they don’t work… And if you cover them up like this, you can’t tell that they are NOT granite, and it won’t bother you a bit! Think of all the money you will save on that pricey upgrade. Not to mention the time wiping them off.
Next, notice the awesome finished basement. It adds 700 additional square feet of space you have to keep clean—I mean, LIVING space. The steps double as a great couch-cushion slide. I KNEW we’d get our money out of that Ethan Allen couch and loveseat set.
As your children tumble down the steps, squeeling in delight over the couch cushion slide, they will find their soft landing to be all the stuff you’ve pulled out of the closets but don’t yet have a place for. Oh, and the sleeping bags from the last basement camp out. Because camping out in the basement is waaaay fun. Look out for that high chair, though. That’ll hurt.
To your left, you will find our lovely bar area. In the five years of living here, we’ve never once used it at as a bar. EVERYONE does that. We pride ourselves in uniqueness. Yes, we’ve used it mostly for animal cages. Brownie and Pepper the bunnies, Guiney the guiney pig, Pooh and Pooh Two the hamsters and Gardner, the snake all called this lovely space “home.” As well as a few warming eggs that never hatched, but rotted (indicative by the smell) and some stray lizards.
Worried about the lack of storage in this home? Not to worry! We have several hundred feet of unfinished storage space. However, using storage space for STORAGE is so common. Instead, consider using it as a Club House (sign negotiable).
And in this corner…just to name a few. That little ledge on the left makes a great seat for children who know the rule is to eat in the kitchen, NOT to the great room. But since that ledge is six inches closer to the TV and it isn’t technically the great room, it’s much more convenient!What versitilty!!!!
Finally, I want to bring special attention to the doors and cabinets. Very valuable and functional at the same time.
And this wall is freshly painted, but you’d never know it! Why? Because a very artistic daughter has chosen to display her priceless works of art here. With tape. This really cuts down on that Paper Tiger we all try to tame, because we don’t need to wonder what to do with all the priceless pictures.
More here on the bedroom door. Don’t even ask me why she’s drawing vampires and ghosts. That’s a totally new thing and I’m about fixin’ to go take them down. And I don’t even say “fixin.”
And this bedroom door actually doubles as an address/phone directory. Be sure to write any phone numbers in INK so they will be very difficult to remove.
If anyone is interested in this house, please book a showing through our realtor. We will need at least two week’s notice, if you’d like to see it remotely clean. If you’d like to see the “REALITY” version, just stop by anytime and let yourself in. If we’re not here, we’re probably out looking at houses.
Looks like my house right now 🙂
Thanks for the giggles 🙂
P.S. I would like a personal response. I miss you!!!
Girl I love it.
You could call it Reality Realty.
And you know, if everyone could just train themselves to see through the normal everyday life, it would be a lot easier and more people could find a house. It's amazing how unvisionary people can be!
heart you!
Don't you hate the thought of selling a house? GAG!!!! However, I love your blog, and it looks like my house, but alas, I'm not trying to sell. Praise God!
Thanks for sharing.
I love it – looks like a home with kids . .. who get to be kids. It shouldn't be any other way!
With 3 kids 2 and under, my house pretty much always looks like that (especially since our oldest is just starting to more occasionally pick up after herself). : )
Too funny! By the way, I haven't gotten around to saying it yet, but it was really fun to meet you at SheSpeaks a few weeks ago! Hope you are doing well!
Your post made me laugh! I think that this is the reality for most of us. Last year I caught my daughter writing on the wall. When I asked her what in the world she was doing, she said,"Helping you make a grocery list, mommy!" It said: 3 PAKS OF COCES
BIY 1 GAT 1 FRE. This means 3 packs of cookies, buy 1 get one free. It is still there.
WOW! I'm not really qualified to comment on what I've just seen/read. But I'm reminded of a TV show–"Hoarders." Just Joshing ya. Anyway, I was miraculously able to view and read your blog today. I don't know exactly what happened, but I clicked on what I thought was a post and it routed me to the Nester's site, and then I hit the back button and I saw God speak–not literally. P.S. Can you put a spell/grammar check in the comment section for those of us who don't have good grammar or spell well?
Hey Sandy! I've been out of blogging commission for a week or so, but am getting caught up today. This post is hilarious! I'm sure you'll have lines of cars down the street full of people just waiting to get into your house for a look-see. 🙂
Sandy, I can't believe you met The Nester! I love her blog and follow it too. How cool! Not the part about the stalking but meeting her. LOL.
As someone who has been trying to sell her home, I know what you mean. I kind of like your idea best but …it's hard enough in this market. I find keeping a 3,700 square foot house clean and sparkling even without kids is a big job. We've actually taken ours off the market for now and I was so glad to leave a few crumbs and dust around.
Sarah was able to sell her house so hopefully yours will sell too. I enjoyed your dose of reality. Maybe I'll use a few parts in my "let's get real" series that I started and haven't reinitiated because I'm too tired from cleaning. I'll email you about that if I do.
Love you,
Debbie
that was hilarious….i'll have to check out the Nester (she does look quite scared). LOL!
we sold our house last year…lots of work. i try (key word) to keep my house "staged" now….working on hospitality and that frees me up to be okay when people drop in….although i also think it puts them at ease to see my piles!
have fun!
My favorite thing I've read today! Our basement flooded this spring and we are still in the process of remodeling it. So everything is now in our upstairs. If you'd like a good laugh let me know and I'll take a picture of our master bathroom. You won't be able to tell its a bathroom-you can't even walk into it because its stuffed with so much stuff. It missed its calling as a walk in closet!
You are so brave to show your house the way it really looks. The tour of my house would be just as comical.
Sandy !
Just don't move. Who will take care of Oreo and the fish while you guys are on vacation???? Not to mention you have such great neighbors 🙂 Good luck ! Lori
I can't show you a picture of it, but my cupboard door looks eerily similar to yours. It's where I tape notes to myself, shopping lists, and of course, the priceless works of art my kids make. I say make good use of the space in front of your face!
House looks lovely to me. Looks like a happy family lives there. Bless you!
My rule is-now that you have seen the reality-you can stop by anytime! BTW-mattresses against the wall work as slides and a climbing wall.
LOL – Oh I really enjoyed that!!
"Enough with the fake house already." I love that!
I stopped in to invite you to become a follower at my blog – I'm hosting a contest in a few weeks for all my followers, it will be fun!
Sandy..nice idea you have got on staging works. Some people join a series of training for gaining certification on home staging. It might be a sign of enthusiasm today in the industry. Well.nice blog you have buddy. Visit us also and learn more about made solar panel for homes. This will enrich staging work ideas as well.
Oh sweet girl! You are in my prayers. I hated that phase of trying to sell our house. I hope it goes by quickly for you all.
Hilarious post! I was cracking up.
I would like a tour staged or unstaged, but I want to schedule it for when you ARE home. I want to squeeze you guys.
Miss you!