Karen, That was a terrific article you found and very true!  People LOVE their homes after it's staged but living it in and trying to keep it that way is next to impossible.  Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks for sharing such a great article, Karen!  I was laughing out loud as I read through the trials of this homeowner.  What a great Realtor....one who truly gets it.  My question is this:  why do children always wipe their noses on the most obvious things??  LOL

Teresa

Hi Carole - I know it's so true - like she described being on one of those tv shows when you get home - you just don't recognize it!

Yes, Teresa they got a great Realtor! about the kids noses thing...whatever's handy at the moment works - that's one of the reasons I won't use "soft" inventory in occupied homes (pets and people tend to use things like rugs, towels, linens and pillows - it's just natural..)

Thank you for sharing this post!  Good reminder for Stagers who install acessories in an occupied home that if it is a busy family with small kids the Staging strategy needs to be easy for them maintain.

Thanks for calling this to my attention.  I love the view from the other side.  People will so relate.  Hope all is well there in Texas.

Karen: Thanks for alerting us all to this post. I really got a chuckle out of it. I don't have kids, but I have dogs (3 90+lb. Labs) and I spend at least an hour per day picking up their toys and returning them to the bin. Who's the Retriever here? This post will help me walk a mile in my client's shoes when I have to tell them to keep the house tidy for showings.

Tori Lynn it's good to consider how to help the seller w/small kids keep up the staging once it's complete. This family actually left town too so not every seller has that opportunity.

It's gettin' hot down here Terrylynn!

Michelle I only have one lab/mix about 70lbs and cannot imagine more than one of her but on top of two kids and a bird from hades it's about all I can manage in my life ;)

Karen,

This is a perfect example of how staging can actually reduce the stress of selling a home and raising children at the same time.

It was a lot of work, on every ones part, up front but everything was over in a few weeks. That's infinitely better to having your house on the market for months; kids or no kids.

And the cool thing was she actually like many of the changes and would implement them for living.

                               Good job Minnesota Realtor /Staging Specialist!

Karen,

Thanks for sharing this article!  Very funny, but so true!  My kids are older now, but I can relate to this because I sold one of my homes back when the kids were still all under the age of 8. I'm a stager and I still had a heck of a time keeping the kids from moving things around and leaving toys everywhere, but luckily we sold quickly, but it was the longest two weeks of my life.

Susan you are EXACTLY right about that! Thank you for making the point so well. As difficult as it semed initially it was short term "pain" for long term gain!

Even us stagers who have kids and can relate huh Michelle? I am really glad I'm not selling my house right now too!

thanks for sharing the article, that is reality, been there and done that, so I know how hard it is to keep it up with kids.  a quick tip is to keep a handy closed container, at any moment if you have to show the house, just dump everything in a basket and keep it closed and when showing is done you can take care of basket.  It is very hard with kids to keep house in staged condition.

Shobha

Hello Karen, what a great read!  After reading the article I was thinking that she has a keen sense of humor that can come out because she did sell her house.  I am thinking that people that do not have their properties professionally staged may not feel as humorous.  Thanks for sharing this, great story.

Today's smile!  Thx, Karen O, for passing it along! 

Hi Karen!

Great post to help us relate to the stresses of the seller! We are also sweating here in Houston, but as long as we can dodge the hurricanes again this year, I will be happy!  A couple of years ago, I picked up my Mom & Dad and had to drive to Dallas just to get accomodations because of  the exodus of folks leaving the coastal areas.

Kathy

Sobha great idea about the basket and easy to do!

Gary you're right - success makes a big difference in how one feels after the work process

Karen ;- D.

I hope you won't have to do that again Kathy but if you're in the DFW area for any reason please call me!

Hi Karen,

I have LIVED the article when we Staged and sold all of our houses. For the first house I had an 17 month old and was 9 months pregnant (and over due) when we moved.  A few years later, when we sold our second house, I had 4 children - the youngest was less than a year old, and the oldest was 5, and we had 2 cats.  I had 2 cribs in one room, 2 in diapers, and had to remove one of them for Staging.  That baby had to be in a pack-and-play that I was supposed to open and close up each day.  He finally ended up in our bed.  But I did keep the house "staged" - and it sold.  When we sold our next house, the 4 children were 2-7 years old - 2 in diapers, toys galore, and me taking care of four little kids while my husband spent the week in another city for work.  Again, I had easy solutions for Staging - easy thinggs to quickly set on the center of tables. solutions for laundry and bed making.  So when I encounter a client with pets and kids, the ability to relate to them helps make my job of encouraging them to keep their house Staged for the duration - much easier.

Thanks for sharing!

Jennie

You are a brave woman Jennie to move all those times with small children! It also makes you well aware of your client's situations as well to speak from that kind of experience. Keeping a home staged is MUCH easier while selling (and even living for others) than not.

Besides the great content, the writer has a way with words.  Thanks for sharing it.  Living in a house with pets who can open closet doors, retrieve toys placed neatly away, and "hide" under the bedspreads can be almost as much of a challenge as living with kids.

Now those tricksters couldn't possibly be your pets now would they Lorrie?

Did I say this was the cutest and most realistic thing I've read on the subject.  What an educational piece from the mouths of the client.  Very validating and good preparation for any family contemplating staging.

I so agree with you Terrylynn and it would be a good thing for sellers with kids to read prior to staging.

Pets or pests?  Yes, Knickknack (Nick) and Bric-a-brac (Brick) are wiley creatures and very talented.

Thank you for sharing the article.  I can relate.  While building our home, it sold before our next home was completed-six months to go.  No problem, the builder had a spec home we could rent while ours was being completed.  Trust me, we were very grateful!!  However, because it was a spec home we had to be willing to show the home when requested.  That meant 6 months of a clean home while you are working and building another home.  Oh yeah, we only have one child--I am sure much more work is involved with a larger family.  I try and keep that experience in mind when I am working with homesellers.  There is no way around it, you are inconvenienced when selling your home but well worth the extra work.

I've got two pests myself on top of kids Lorrie ;-)

It sounds like you did the builder a favor by "hosting" his spec as a model that was show ready anytime Michele, I cannot imagine what you had to go thru!

What a GREAT STORY, and thank GOD the house sold as quickly as it did or I fear she may have had a nervous breakdown trying to keep it in perfect showing condition. TOO FUNNY!

Phyllis Pafumi

Great story!  I get the Google Alerts as well and there are some pretty great stories out there.  After this one, I think I may collect them and add them to my website.

Hi Phyllis, I'm happy she got it sold too based on what she went through. Hope you're having a great summer!

That's a great idea Tina

That was a funny article.  It does go to show though that most of us live with way too much stuff, especially those of us with kids.  The toys my daughter had when she was young was unbelivable, considering she was the only grandchild and great grandchild.  Now as a teenager, it is all the sports equipment we have to live with but at least that stays in the garage!

Having two kids myself I can relate to this author too Lisa - we're still getting rid of old toys, beanie babies and pokemon cards!

Thanks for sharing that blog, Karen.  It was well written and insightful to hear from a seller.  I think most of us can relate to the accumulation of "stuff."  It's amazing how much we acquire and more amazing how we hang on to it.   I have a garage full of things that I need to weed through and perge.  And no, I'm not selling; just motivated by having read her blog (smile).

Kathy

Well Kathy you know how hard it is as home stagers to let go of anything we see as inventory - it's a irony we have to deal with in our profession but it does make me stressed when it's all over my own house. I'm enjoying the cleaning out actually - especially that I don't have the pressure of moving on my back to do it!

I was laughing at picture alone...ha!  Great blog...

Hope you're doing swell in MN Beth!

That's so funny! I can only imagine what it would be like living with young children and rented furniture. Thanks for the post.