Staging New Hampshire

Funny!!!  I'm beginning to think the terms "home stager" and "OCD" are synonymous.  Thanks for the laugh!

Sharon, fortunately I DO NOT do ALL of those things.  Some, definitely.  Sometimes I think that the statement "I wouldn't want you to see my house", loses me business.  IF I would let them see my house, they would understand that I truly DO understand.  Right? 

I would add... you might be a home stager IF you are simply (ha) browsing at a home accessories store, find a bargain and have to buy it even though your inventory is OVERFLOWING. 

Sharon-  after reading your checklist I can safely say I have chosen the right profession.  I qualify for almost every example on your list! 

I am enjoying your posts---- yes I'm a Newbie-  just getting ready to break in with my first blog-----any advice??

Your blogs are very professional looking-  did you design it yourself?

I'm currently using a post written on How to Make them Look good by Gregory Lohr.   Using nvu word processor for the layout---having some challenges.....I kind of compare it to my old Powerpoint days, but not as flexible--

That's very funny.  I could most definitely NOT be a home stager.  You can find me in the pool!

hahahahaha!!!  So many of these don't apply.... I think I might be a little bit worried about some of the ones that don't apply for me.... lol...

Great list and very amusing!

Hi Sharon!

I don't do that in other people homes, just sometimes:)

But I just heard a story from a very good friend of mine who is a stager as well. She just returned from her annual ski trip from BC. Every year her family rents the same cottage in the same ski resort. Last year, while she and her family was on vacation there,  she staged the cottage, as the furniture layout wasn't "right". She came home this year and told me that the cottage owner liked her changes so much that they did not change a thing. Funny, eh?

Now that was funny.  I know you do all those things from experience.  lol lol

Patsy:  Oh yeah!  OCD for sure.  Have you seen the show Monk? 

Ginger:  Actually, "I wouldn't want you to see my house" is usually said to me not by me.  People find out I'm a stager and suddenly feel their house is too messy for me to see.  It's like they think I will judge them or their house wouldn't live up to some standard or something.

Coming home with more inventory, when you are over stocked already, is a very good addition to the list!

Lori:  Welcome newbie!  Thank you for the kind words about my blog.  Yes, I used the AR customizer.  I haven't started using nvu yet, althought I intend to.  Just haven't had the time.  I visited your blog and although you hadn't written yet, I can see that you have been busy designing it.  Very pretty background.

My advice is to write about things you are passionate about, or enjoy doing, or experiences you have had.  Just be real, be you.  Always reply to comments left for you and visit the blogs of the people who leave you comments and comment on their posts.  Subscribe to the blogs you enjoy and they will usually subscribe to yours in return.

Around here we all learn from each other.  I learn something new each day.  If you have any questions, just ask and someone will have an answer.

I look forward to your blog!

Sharon, I was unclear.  People are often saying that to me as well and I tell them...oh you don't want to see my house.  Somehow they think we (stagers, redesigners etc.) all live with no chaos, no clutter and everything is perfect.  NOT! 

Thanks for the fun post today, Tara!  I've done many of the things on your list and probably will continue to do so...just part of the staging personality, I guess.

I am guilty of many of these!  I also find people don't want to have me over anymore, because they are afraid of what I will think of their home.  I find myself  wanting to rearrange  things in restaurants.  I think oh that should go there or what an awkward placement for a painting ... you get the idea.  Loved this list!

I have had up to ten lamps in my car among other things along those lines. maybe due to the fact i use to build furniture.

Dawn:  As much pleasure as I get from organizing, I too would normally choose the pool.  I happened to have a bad rash on my foot and was avoiding the sun that day.  It was satisfying getting that closet cleaned though!

Melissa:  I don't think you have anything to worry about!  I'm glad you were entertained!  Thanks.

Monica:  That's a great story!  She must have been so happy to see it was still the way she left it.

Ginger:  They do assume we have perfect, eat-off-the-floor, everything-in-its-place show homes.  Which of course, I would if my home were for sale.  But right now, OMG, it could use some TLC.

Diana:  Wear that personality with pride!  I do!  It's who we are.  Thanks!

Sheila:  It is so true, no matter where we are, we see ways to improve.  I'm glad you loved it!  Thanks for joining in!

Tom:  I'm not getting the connection between building furniture and having ten lamps in the car?  Could it be, you have an inner stager who can relate to us?

This is a fun post! I also have many of these habits.

A few more I have:  Studying hotel lobbys and rooms to see how they could be better arranged. As sick as it sounds I also reorganize the hotel room as we leave so it looks like it did when we came. (Minus the hanging towels.) I also study magazine photos and mentally stage the rooms.

Great list Sharon, Very funny!  If you can't relax during a massage boy do I have someone for you! LOL

Sharon, this is VERY funny. Vacuuming the garage? I can see Stagers doing that. Unique and very talented individuals for sure.

YES get those garage floors clean I do I cant stand pulling up stepping out seeing a dirty floor, I even have carpet runner going to door entry to the home LOL.

I'm sure someone will say this, but how about when you rearrange things on the stores shelves.

You're in the right profession! Thank God for you stagers! We in the Real Estate Profession need a middle man to take care of those people out there that Don't know how to decorate, and we (I) don't want to hurt their feelings.

I went in a $400-500 thousand dollar house and there were dolls all over the place and it was on the market! Need I say more!

Oh you guys drive me crazy!!!!!!!   :-)   I thought nvu was a typo and couldn't figure it out. http://www.net2.com/nvu/about.html 

Anyway, I'm quilty of many of those on the list.  I would be cleaning and staging in Florida after the sun goes down and in the pool during the day.

My storage is full of 'good deals' and hoping for a place to use them.

Great post and great layout.  I'll play with the nvu later.

My mouth fell open as I read this-this is SO true!! Thanks for the laugh!

Sharon ~ I don't know how it happened, but my own home was always nicely decorated ... but when I moved into my present home 3 years ago and started my staging business at the same time, my own home suffered and still looks like I'm camping here -- I guess it has something to do with spending all of my time and effort making other properties look fabulous!  Help -- I need a stager LOL.

Very funny! My partner once hid a hideous ceramic frog statue in a model home, and we've been known to make other small "adjustments." Does that qualify us? And staging store shelves -- oh, yeah. That too. Thanks for this very revealing post!

This is so cute, Sharon.  I'm guilty of many on your list and darn proud of it (smile).

Kathy

Shelley:  I've always cleaned up and neatened the hotel rooms before leaving!  Hotel rooms are usually so busy and dramatic, I am always thinking of ways to calm them down.  I like relaxing and tasteful, they seem to go crazy when they decorate hotel rooms.

Debra:  It is a rare time when I'm not thinking about something...I find it difficult to just let go.

Gary:  We are an interesting lot!  Can't live with us, can't live without us!  Thanks for joining in!

Lynn:  We painted the floor this past summer with garage floor paint with the specks in it.  It looks great.  Well right now, it has mud all over it, because of the time of year.  In the summer it looks great.  I would have the carpet pieces too, but right now it wouldn't make sense, they would be wet all the time.

Cindy:  Guilty!  We can't help ourselves!

Connie:  I've had houses with dolls before and it is creepy.  Any time there is a collection over taking a room, it needs to go. 

Virginia:  You have me laughing!  I'm sorry about "nvu" and the confusion!  I haven't tried it yet either, but I did download it and I'm hoping to play with it tomorrow.

Bobbi:  I'm glad you enjoyed it!  Thanks.

Maureen:  That reminds me of the old saying about the cobbler's children having no shoes.  We tend to put ourselves at the bottom of the list.  Take an afternoon and pretend your house is a job, see what you can get done.  You will feel so good if you do!

Laurie:  It sounds like you have a lot of fun on the job!  Thanks for sharing!

Kathy:  That's what is important, that you are proud of who you are! We all should be proud of our devotion to perfection!

Very funny!  I can relate to many of these.  To add to your list- a simple picnic must include plates, napkins, "silverware" and a cloth tablecloth that coordinates with each other.  My husband shakes his head but deep down I think he loves it!

Marla:  I think your picnic sounds fabulous and I would want it no other way!

How cute, thanks for the comic relief.  I guess I'm not a home stager...  Really, you vacuum the TRASH??  Glad you stopped by my blog today.  I'm going to work on getting access to my piano to save my soul.  Thanks!

LOL!  I do some of these things-thanks for making me laugh and smile after a long day Sharon!!!

Happy Staging!

Sharon,

Very funny stuff! I think you can still spend time at the pool with your hubby though...but you just might find yourself rearranging the patio furniture, folding up beach towels and placing them strategically on the lounge chair, right after you place your tray of faux cocktails on the side table sitting next to it!

I think there must be ( or should be?) a name for the syndrome that might be called "the uncontrolable need to rearrange public spaces"... This includes lobbies of every sort, waiting rooms, tabletop displays in retail stores, .. I once redid a display in the lounge of a rather toney restaurant while we waited for our table.... My husband understood,( even though he was sighing loud enough for me to hear! ) .. I'm not sure what the rest of the onlookers were thinking..  But I felt SO much better!

Now... to hide all of those tacky gooey plastic pump soap dispenser's! .. ( is there a name for THAT syndrome?)

Hi Sharon,

Really funny ... thanks for the chuckles.  I can relate to some, for sure.  If you don't mind, I'm going to "re-blog" this and include it in my group for the Canadian ReDesigners Association.

Janna:  I didn't say "vacuum the trash" I said vacuum the garage!  Even I have my limits!  Thanks!

Cathy:  You are so welcome!  I'm glad I could bring a smile to your face!

Michelle:  You made me laugh, with the visual of rearranging the pool area and placing the faux cocktails!  Too funny, thanks!

Anne:  Thank God for the understanding husbands.  There should be a support group for them.  Could you just imagine the conversations they could have!  The important thing in your story is that you felt better.  How could you have enjoyed your meal if you hadn't improved that display?  Thanks for contributing, I enjoyed your comment!

Sandi:  By all means, reblog...I'm happy you enjoyed it!  Thanks!

Sharon - That is so funny!  Your poor husband, alone in the pool... You need a break!  :)

Debi:  The trip was supposed to be the break! Between cleaning the closet and refrigerator and checking in on AR, I might as well been home.