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Do You Let a Home Show Its Love??

By
Real Estate Agent with John L Scott Market Center 700512026

I've been reading a book called Simple Abundance...it's been around for years, but I finally got a copy of it early this spring. 

It's a daily missive on simple abundance, whatever direction that takes. June 7th was "The Joy of Living Rooms". I loved this quote of Lucy Abbot Throop:

Some living rooms we see have really no right to the name; they are so unattractive they ought, instead, to be called existing rooms. I like to think of the word "living-rooms" being short for the joy-of-living rooms. That is what they ought to be--full of life and happiness and beauty. 

I got to pondering this in regards to our chosen field of real estate. For me, many of the most elegant, expensive homes that are pristine in tone don't have a dollop of human energy. There's only so much of the neutral tones that one can take before saying, "Give me some personality!!" 

 

Don't get me wrong....I completely understand the neutral palette, the "see-yourself-here-and-make-it-your-own" mentality, but I get BORED. Throw some color in, some personal touch that makes us feel like someone is actually HAPPY to be in this room; this home! Show some L-O-V-E! 

 

I'm probably causing some prickling, and rightly so. There is that idea that you remove your own "stuff", de-personalize, to make room for that next buyer. But, I like a cool art piece, a bit of whimsy, a personal somethin' somethin' that allows you to FEEL the life and love that a home has experienced and is wanting to express. 

 

When a buyer feels comfortable in a home, you are one step closer to having them put their own personal stamp on it. And part of that is something you can't manufacture...it's the ENERGY that home is giving off. 

 

I sell many vacation homes. And some  (many) have had scads of family memories built into them at the lake. And I DO notice that if there are fun family photos of outings that have occurred here at Fishhawk Lake displayed, people LOOK AT THEM. They see the happiness, and more often than not, connect with it. They, too, are here in hopes of creating future memories on the lake. The joy is apparent. The love of what their home embraces, the kids, dogs, friends, coming and going...it's palpable. Not every home has that good energy, and that's okay. But, helping to allow a home to show its love is part of our job. And a welcome one for me. 

Gayle C. Rich-Boxman
REALTOR® John L Scott Market Center Direct: (503)755-2905
Fishhawk Lake Real Estate ™

lakehomesatfishhawk.com

*Five Star
Professional* 2017-2018

 

Comments (43)

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Debe Maxwell, CRS I love the clean lines and look of simplicity, but when it's too sterile, that's what it does to me, too...leaves me cold. Not surprised that you get it!! We are sisters, aren't we??!!

Oh Sharon Kowitz YUP!! There aren't too many homes here lately, that I have to contend with as to the mismatched "2nd home" don't-care-type of feeling. However, there are times when I think to myself, OMG, how am I going to fix this mess so that I can get decent pictures? And it's funny when they say to me, "Oh, yes, we'd like to have all of the furniture included in the sale". Yikes! 

Jun 12, 2018 08:00 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

It can be a striking a fine balance, Nick & Trudy Vandekar, 610-203-4543. Yesterday, I was in my girlfriend's home that she and her husband remodeled. It's very eclectic (she said so herself), and some of the rooms are all in taupes, grays, creams, brown, but feels so GLORIOUS. Her love of decorating, her love of her home and her family make it feel just perfect. 

It can't be cookie cutter for me. You have to express YOURSELF. Not everyone is a Martha Stewart. 

Jun 12, 2018 08:03 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

                          Thank you, ACTIVERAIN for the *FEATURE*~~

Jun 12, 2018 08:07 AM
Sharon Kowitz
CRS-SRES-ABR-GRI-E-Pro-CREN ~ COMPASS RE - Cary, NC
Cary, NC Relocation Specialist ~ Buying or Selling

Gayle Rich - :O) OMG you are so right when I go in a home and I am thinking about photos - I think to myself...maybe you should move out then we sell this home!!! Please!!! 

Jun 12, 2018 08:08 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Gayle,
There is no arguing with your logic on this one! Congrats on the gold star!

Jun 12, 2018 09:41 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® why thank you, dear! I do know that some would say neutrals are the way to go...didn't want to ruffle feathers, just offering a different perspective. 

 

Jun 12, 2018 10:55 AM
Michael Eisenberg
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Real Estate Guy

Sometimes you've just go against that traditional wisdom. Good for you encouraging sellers to add a bit of personality and style.

Jun 12, 2018 11:22 AM
Linda Metallo DiBenardo
RE/MAX Impact, Lockport, Illinois - Lockport, IL

Showing off a home/homeowner's personality does have an appeal to buyers.

Jun 12, 2018 03:01 PM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Good thoughts.  What came to mind here is the term "marble barn".  Lots of square footage but little detail and proportions are bad.  Certain heights of rooms, the amount of light let in, the views, the materials, and the colors and accessories all add together to mean something.  Tough to pull it off, great when it happens!

Jun 12, 2018 03:39 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Michael Eisenberg I do have a tendency to lean left of center! 

It DOES Linda Metallo DiBenardo and sure makes showing homes a lot more interesting for everyone involved! 

John Henry I have never heard that phrase before. Fascinating! I love learning new info about our business. And it is NEVER dull, thank God. Thanks for your input, it was valuable. 

 

Jun 12, 2018 09:42 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

This is exactly why I always say "visually and emotionally" appealing when discussing the purpose of home staging. It's so much more than just the visual that attracts buyers.
I love the living room quote.

Jun 13, 2018 03:24 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Sharon Tara and such a smart woman you are! I loved that quote, too. It's very old, around the '20's, I believe.

Some things never change! 

Jun 13, 2018 08:36 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Gayle, I find homes that have some type of personalization to them sell faster than the all neutral ones. No one wants to feel cold in a home. Now, I'm not saying neon walls are a good thing but, buyers need to feel an emotional connection and that's not done with all vanilla walls. Love your post! 

Jun 13, 2018 11:27 AM
Kay McGiboney
Craig-Massee Realty - Milledgeville, GA

I agree 100%. Family photos in a home show the fun awaiting a new family. I want to sell a home, not just a house.

Jun 13, 2018 12:53 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Amanda S. Davidson Beautifully put! Yup, I'm with ya on this one!

Kay McGiboney oh, I love that....I want to sell a home, not just a house. Perfectly put. 

Jun 13, 2018 08:58 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Agree 100% .  A bland room with no color and zero emotion fades in the background.  

Jun 13, 2018 09:33 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

When a buyer walks into a listing, they immediately start determining if they would live there. Many buyers have told me that after looking at several listings they walk in the front door of one and know it is the one.

There has to be some personality projected to attract the buyer.

Buyers use their "feelings" to determine if the home is right for them.

I agree, Show some Love.

Jun 14, 2018 07:12 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Jan Green  and John Wiley trying to keep our own choices at bay to allow our buyers to have their own experience is also part of our job, but if we have any emotional connection with our clients and our livelihood, then we will have somewhat of the same reaction as our buyers, hopefully, being able to "feel" that energy that certain homes (not houses, but HOMES) give off....even if it's not to our personal tastes. 

I love COLOR. But, not everyone does! And I get that. I do my best to get a sense of what they are seeing through their own eyes, not through mine. 

Jun 14, 2018 08:23 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

I can certainly see where happy family photos taken at Fishhawk Lake would be appealing for buyers.  Your photo with the heart overlay is so appropriate for this post!

Jul 18, 2018 03:32 PM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

And Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty this wonderful home just RECORDED today! Very VERY happy buyers. Full price offer, list to pending in only 25 days! 

That's pretty darned good around here. 

Jul 18, 2018 03:34 PM