Staging With A Theme

On a recent trip to Arizona for fun I thought I’d check out some model homes to see how the Southwestern stagers handled staging for mass appeal. For the most part a majority of the model homes (and I emphasize these are nice model homes) I viewed were tastefully done. The furniture was clean lined, neutral, the accessories were abundant and updated, they all were very appealing. The homes actually made me feel like I could envision myself living in them (and that‘s the point of staging), and for a brief moment of fantasy I embraced living in the DRY consistently warm, sunny environment of Arizona - minus the rattlesnakes.

But here’s what caught my eye and I thought it was an interesting reaction. One of the model homes had a “Sea” theme throughout. Did I miss the ocean border in Arizona in my geography class? Though the main color theme was white, a great neutral, the accent colors were quite vibrant and the sea theme accessories enveloped the home. Seashells, corral, palm trees and beach accessories really distracted me from seeing true features of the home. Though memorable because of the theme, not appealing, at least not to me.

Homes staged with a theme room or in whole will narrow the mass appeal. When you are staging a home for sale, remember not all prospective clients will embrace your beloved country antiques, nor the passion of your rooster collection. It’s a safe bet to keep it as neutral themed as possible, pack up your treasured collections and let your home’s features be what buyer’s remember.

Vulnerable

Changes are inevitable~ and I am learning that life lesson.... again...still~

I'd like to say I am learning it well, but it appears that my first response is one of resistance.

I like order and really, really hate surprises. Even the good ones. After the fact I adjust, but don't surprise me. It bugs me. I feel out of control and vulnerable. And who likes feeling vulnerable?

As I was working with a client this past week, I realized the vulnerability that moving from your home brings. It brings changes. Sometimes exciting, sometimes just not!

My recent client is from another country and just returned from purchasing a house overseas.  Moving back home after 6 years in the States.  Big change for their family. Vulnerable and overwhelming.  Here I am a stranger, although a professional, giving advice on how to re-think their home's look.  What will other people see when they walk in?  Is it inviting and spacious?  Such an important aspect when selling, but living in a home sometimes those highlights get lost in everyday life.  It is summer and kids are in and out and schedules are broken up with events, leaving no time for the daily organizing. Mom is beat, dad is busy and the kids are willy~nilly!

My role in a consultation is to learn the family...access the situation and their life style while keeping my focus of the purpose of staging. The homeowners have to be somewhat vulnerable to the advice, without losing their comfort in their own home. 

Balancing a 'staged' home with reality. 

Prioritizing what is really important.

First, selling their home for top dollar is right up there on the list. But a professional stager must understand the stress of moving and balance that with caring advice; move out some personal items?  Hard to do when those reflect a family experience or a memory.  But a potential buyer is not there to see your own personality, but to zero in on the home itself. 

How can the buyer picture their family in the home?  We as stagers pride ourselves in finding that balance of giving the homeowner an achievable 'to-do' list, without harming opinions, and discerning what a potential buyer will see when they walk through the door. We ask our clients to be a little vulnerable for the sake of selling their home.

Being vulnerable is just a part of it~ ahh. And surprise! Most likely, it is all worth it!

Vacant

Normally when I think of the word vacant, it conjures up a negative picture in my head. “She had a vacant stare” or ‘his head was vacant of ideas’. Not positive.

It denotes the idea that there is nothing happening, nothing going on when it should be. The word “vacant” alludes to the idea of an expectation falling flat. 

We’ve had the privilege of walking through many homes in our staging career and I have to admit, vacant is vacant.

Nothing is going on. It is difficult to picture what cozy happenings took place in a home’s space.

Was it comfortable and inviting or is this empty cold shell all this house has to offer?

The anticipation of walking into client’s home that is being lived in answers that question right away.  One can see life in their surroundings; artifacts from a journey, school books and toys of noisy children, or sleek metal and glass stating a simplistic choice of style.

But if a home is totally vacant, I leave wanting more. It can be considered a blank canvas, but a blank canvas to those without an artistic eye is overwhelming.

As professional stagers, we have the benefit of bringing a discerning eye to a home allowing us to visualize that “what could be”. 

By placing a few specifically chosen pieces of furniture and interesting accessories, a space becomes a place.

Correctly places ‘things’ bring character and expression, giving the idea of dimension to anyone walking through with the hope of making this house their own.

Vacant? Well, it is nice when you are looking for a hotel late at night~

veiled

I had been down that road before without really noticing anything exceptional. The advertisements and signs were eye catching yet a distraction and enticing, but almost unnoticed as I sped by.  Just busy stuff. Seen, but unseen really. How many times can I look at the same thing and really see it? becomes mundane and lacks interest after a while.

But on my trek back home on this spring day, I noticed something ahead that seemed out of place.  Past the horizon of blaring neon and bold printed words was majestic nature. I could barely see it, but at the end of the road was Mt. Hood quietly veiled in clouds. Almost surreal. Huge yet small so far away. Hidden but big as day!

Needing a quiet minute of respite, I set out for a bit~ just me and the journey. I was uninterrupted allowing me to really take notice of my surroundings.

I thought about it often this week, wondering how many times I don't see things that are huge.

It makes me think of the unfinished project in our laundry room. About 4 years ago we added onto our home and undertook a huge kitchen remodel, gutting the place and reconfiguring space with our updated style.  Choosing and sorting through ideas and finding just the right thing, I paid attention to everything related to remodeling.

However, 4 years later we still have one more task to finish; the trim around the counter in the laundry room.  Why can I walk by it day after day and not even take notice of the rough edge?  I'm used to it.  It is common. Normal. Unnoticed for the most part.

But if I had to sell my fun little home, it would be the first thing we would complete. But now, hey, its not such a big deal. I can walk by it and not give it another thought.

As stagers, we are trained to find the mundane, the small stuff and the big stuff. The distractions.  We love the challenge of seeing things in a different light. We walk into a home and that is the hunt. Sometimes it slaps us in the face and other times we just stop and notice. We find the unnoticed so that those who come through your home as potential buyers are not distracted, but enticed.  

Affirmation

Why is it that even though we know something, we still struggle with doubt?  There have been many situations when I knew the answer to a posing question, yet still felt compelled to seek out confirmation.  I want validation, I want to be affirmed. 
The question can be simple such as choosing something to wear. I often find myself asking my daughter if my decision is ok...? Am I going to embarass myself with my choice.  Or it can be more difficult; a life changing question.  A question that we think we know the answer to, but still seek out someone with a whit of sensibilities to confirm and direct us to what we really knew was the best choice anyway.  Affirmation.
When I go to a client's home for a staging consultation, I give confirmation. I tediously look through each room, discerning the feel of the space. In our homes, we surround ourselves with comforts or visuals that give a heartstring's snapshot of a memory.  But if it comes time to sell a home, those visuals need to be downplayed. A miniature lighthouse display on a mantle or a photo spread of the grandkids might be better in a box for a while, as you have potential clients coming through your home.

There can be times my suggestions are met with surprise or a little push back. There is wonder at my mere suggestion of putting away the 4 foot cat scratch post. 
Yet more often than not I am met with "Oh, we thinking of doing that but didn't know if it is important." Validation. Comfort
Often we just need someone to come along and tell us its ok.

traffic

There is a long list of pet peeves in my personal file. They are quirky unimportant things in the scheme of life...but... I don't like it when people who don't know me try to pronounce my last name and jumble mumble a guess. Rarely is it correct.  So annoying!  I don't like it when strangers are in my 'bubble' and stand too close to me. Eww!
O, and this; I especially don't like sitting in church or another large gathering and have a tall person sit right in front of me. Really? There should be rules that those (fortunate) taller people must sit in the back!  I'm barely 5 feet tall on a good day!
And I really really don't care much for clutter!
Sometimes I will be just strolling through my own home when I stumble on someone's shoes left helter-skelter in the way.  Now I must admit, I've been known to assume those shoes were left by someone else (insert "husband") only to look down and notice the shoes are mine! (Sorry honey!)
But when I am going from point A to point B...don't slow me down. I'm usually scrambling to get out the door and hope to leave my home neat and tidy.
I like coming home to a spiffy house. It makes me feel good.  Cozy in fact!  I find it restful and pleasing!
So when we are hired to assist a homeowner with a staging consultation, one of the many things we look for is 'stuff'.  Is there stuff blocking our way through the house?  How is the flow of traffic? Can we get from the entry easily to the main living room, flowing through to the kitchen?  Or do we trip over mulitple area rugs, a basket of shoes and the dog bed to find the charm of a home.
Sometimes we understandably become so comfortable in our own home that it is difficult to see the forest through the trees, ya know?  We can all be a little lax in picking up everything unless we have guests coming.  Goodness gracious~ then I go into high gear to make sure things are neaty all hidden in their place. (I blame my mother for this but that is another blog!)
Flow of traffic is vital in staging a home.  As homeowners we get used to things being cozy that basics are overlooked.  The minor things that make us comfortable can make for some lousy online photos.
When someone enters your home, is the first thing they see the back of a couch?  Does someone have to weave and dodge just to get through to the next room? Take a minute to walk through your traffic pattern and see if moving something over, or switching a chair with the sofa might make the flow better. If you have to turn sideways to squeeze between your dresser and your bed, it is might be time to rethink the layout.
Often times it just takes a little tweaking to open up a space.
No one likes to be stuck in traffic.