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Please pack your OSCAR.

By Ginger Foust

Home Stager with Certified Staging Professional

June 16, 2011 03:43 AM

Please pack your OSCAR.

Dream Home Stager Training, Fresno CA

I can imagine that if I'd ever won one of these prestigious golden statues, I too would want to show it off, but........

During a staging consultation this gleaming, gold honor was proudly displayed in a specially created niche, with lighting and presence in the room. It had become the focal point of the living area in this house and the seller (award recipient) was shocked when I suggested that his prized trophy be packed away in preparation for getting his house on the market.

Every house that we see has precious objects that owners want to display and invariably I will gently suggest that they be packed.

What is the most unusual or prized item that you've discussed with sellers?

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Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Maureen, yes it was interesting. This elderly gentleman received this oscar for writing the original musical score for the original Star Wars. Brilliant, but not for staging.

Your description of the real estate agents "addition" surely is strange. Perhaps they (the agent) needed someplace to store this "heirloom".

It is all about education isn't it!! Thanks for adding your find and your thoughts.

Jun 16, 2011 05:41 AM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

If I had something that special I think I might try and have a replica made and leave the replica out. It might cause people to remember the house and think better of it.

Jun 16, 2011 08:07 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Ginger- well the problem with the Oscar is that the buyer's attention would be focused on it and not the house (not to mention sticky fingers). I've had a 4 foot high windmill in the dining room and well as a naked 3 dimensional lady (side view) behind the bed on the wall.

Jun 16, 2011 08:09 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Gene, yes it could do that but again a replica would be better IF left out at all. As Kathy says in her comment we want to focus to be on the house, not the stuff. This Oscar was adjacent to several gold and platinum record displays and would have been a complete distraction. Thanks for your thoughts.

Jun 16, 2011 08:32 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Kathy, so true. The Oscar had to go. Love your contributions. Were these both in the same house? Seriously folks??????

Jun 16, 2011 08:34 AM

Pamela Smith

Ventura County Home Staging - Thousand Oaks, CA

Ginger -- I can't compete with Kathy's windmill and naked lady but here goes! :-) I've had pet ashes in urns, a full-sized sleigh in a living room, and a Sikh "temple" in a master bedroom sitting area. Those were all interesting.

Jun 16, 2011 08:50 AM

Julia Maher

Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT

Connecticut Home Stager

WOW! Nothing I've encountered ranks with that. There was the "Wall O' War Memorabilia" that had to go...complete with Nazi "souvenirs".

Jun 16, 2011 09:10 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Pam, interesting for sure. We should probably write a book of our tales...few people would believe many of them. Thanks for commenting.

Jun 16, 2011 09:38 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Julie, walls and rooms of historical (at least for the seller) memorabilia are tough ones to conquer, but we must not give in. Thanks for your contribution.

Jun 16, 2011 09:41 AM

Alicia Barrington

THE ORIGINAL HOUSTON HOME STAGING - Katy, TX

Houston Home Staging Presents Alicia Barrington

Howdy from Tom & Houston Home Staging! Our most unusual item thus far has been a Super Bowl ring (& other football paraphernalia). It was a celebrity client, who immediately understood that his fame would actually work against him. (No it wasn't OJ, this guy is famous for being one of the nice guys)!

Jun 16, 2011 03:13 PM

Michelle Pimentel

Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA

ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Hi Ginger,

Knowing that Oscar would be a distraction to potential buyers, YOU made the best recommendation possible in asking your clients to pack him away! It's funny, the things we come across in every home that we stage!

Jun 16, 2011 07:37 PM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Ginger--an Oscar--how great is that. Certainly would have distracted the buyers to no end. I staged a house once with a western saddle on a and rack in the master, but the most interesting was a home with a photo of John F. Kennedy with the client's father. She commented that every time the house was shown the photo was moved. Yet, she never packed it away until I mentioned it.

Jun 17, 2011 12:33 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Tom I rather expected that someone would have come across items from sports celebrities and certainly from Texas. Thanks for sharing

Jun 17, 2011 02:41 AM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Michelle, thank you. It is interesting and some times strange what the sellers feel they NEED to leave on display.

Janet, a photo was JFK would certainly draw attention away from the house. I wonder if buyers in the 20-30 age bracket would even know who that was? Thanks for contributing.

Jun 17, 2011 02:44 AM

Anna Dovger

Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX

Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Ginger, it is very painful moment for the client to pack up something he is proud of. I agree with Sally that it is safer to put the item/collections out of sight. I am not expecting that client will understand it right away but they will digest all arguments and I'm sure will do the right thing. Great topic to share.

Jun 17, 2011 03:14 PM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Anna, it never was really an issue because the house sold to a couple that was there while I was doing the consultation with the RE agent. As it turned out, those buyers called me later for a design consult so it was a win-win. These buyers knew this house because the mother-in-law lived next door. They wanted it regardless of any issues. That doesn't happen very often. Thanks.

Jun 17, 2011 04:12 PM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Ginger, well lets see what I have run across that needed to be packed away ? Not an Oscar that is for sure..I did stage a home recently that had a prayer room and had a large Buda in it.

Jun 26, 2011 03:00 AM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Ginger, Thanks for posting on STAGING STORIES !! You get a gold star and have been highlighted...Thanks for sharing..Great story...Mary Lou Teague