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Personally, I want to start an evolution! Let's all tell the truth!

Yes, the first rule to staging a home to sell is to de-clutter. But not all of us are selling and well, every day living is a state of mind.

I am a professional Home Stager and when I first visit a client's home I know their apprehension is what I am going to think about the state of their home. Many of them don't believe me when I say that everyone lives with clutter. This is a normal state. Sure there may be 2% of the population who live in a "staged" home for real but the majority live like everyone else.

Why do I bring this up? Because I want to start an evolution that will allow homeowners feel comfortable. I want people to feel comfortable when other come into their home when it's unprepared for visitors. How horrifying, heh?! I still freak out when I hear the doorbell ring without my expecting someone to arrive.

I'll start. Here is my confession. My house is a mess. Always. I'm like a dog chasing its tail- clean one room, move to the other and by the time I get to the next, the first one is a mess. Why on earth would I put my kids' needs ahead of keeping the house in top notch condition?

The opportunity to have fun will not wait but housework will! I can't tell you how many good times was had because I let go and allowed it to happen. I'm tempted to place a sign at my entrance that says: "I play with my children, can you tell?"

I know many people who reluctantly admit they clean their home when they know someone is coming over but act like they live like that on a daily basis. But to be honest, I purposefully invite people over just so I get caught up on my chores because a messy house gets on my nerves.

Now I tell my friends, "Don't clean up before I visit, it will only compel me to clean up before you visit" Please, can't we all be honest, embrace the clutter and relax. Our home no longer defines who we are like in previous generations! Let's work together and not clean up!

Yes, cleanliness is important but clutter is forgivable! If we all work togther we can have fun, relax about our clutter and won't we all be happier?

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Tina Parker, CSP
UpStage Home ReDesign (.ca)
902-229-5799

Posted by Tina Parker, UpStage Home ReDesign(.ca) on 08/03/2008 10:41 PM

Comments (16)

clutter, home staging

Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...

16 Comments on Personally, I want to start an evolution! Let's all tell the truth!

AUG

2008

I've always believed in just picking up a bit before people come to visit, then clean after they go. I think guests feel more comfortable that way. Also, I actually have a cleaning schedule that is spread over the week...so the house is never 100% clean at one time, but I get more time w/the kids. One last thing - my hubby is a freak about things being picked up, so at 4pm every day, the kids and I do a quick pick up. It's a mess up until then! Don't care...the kids are growing up too fast! Great post! It's all about priorities!

Tina- Oh dear, the big secret is out in the open! Stagers are normal people, too! I like cleaning for company, because it truly is the only time I am motivated to do it! In my house, it's the pets who do the undecorating, and just try to convince two dogs (one being four months old) to pick up after themselves! Here's an example:

Zeke's decorating!

I never get invited to anyone's home (I'm sure many are now thinking: "Well Tom, with your personality what do you expect?"). Anyway, and back to the point: folks are petrified that my discerning eye will pick up each and every defect in the house. Of course that's true, but I would never say anything.....to their face <EG>!

I keep a fairly clean house. But it's easy to find my faults. I resent the folks who tell me at the door "Ohhhh, the house is a mess......." only to find the most immaculate, sanitary, straight from Architectural Digest house on the inside!

(Elaine - and who couldn't love that face?)

To those who immediately come in, my house looks neat. Then again, I don't have small children anymore or a puppy! : ) I try to keep up with the bathrooms, wiping down the kitchen and vacuuming, if nothing else (as far as cleaning goes. I feel like I'm doing laundry every other day, but I'm not counting that as cleaning). Let's just say my husband didn't marry me for my house cleaning skills!

Once a month I'm treated to having my whole house clean on one day. the ladies pop in for two hours and then leave. It's wonderful.

I pick up everyday (Ihave to - my husband has been retired for years and loves doing projects around the house). Have a routine for laundry, changing beds and other chores. Sounds boring doesn't it?

When my children were small this house was never clean at one time.

Guess it's one of the benefits of getting older

My ROOMBAS are my best friends :-) Elaine, they are a must with pets.

Twice a week I turn them loose and they do the work for me

2 dogs, 2 teenagers (which really means 4-6 most of the time) and we run 3 businesses from our home. Can you guess what my house looks like. Oh, and I spend way too much time here!

I think it helps us relate to our clients all the more Tina - making us just as human as they are and I let them know it from the start - the old saying, "the way we live...isn't the way we sell...." speaks volumes. I try to keep the "line of sight" from the front door presentable & the 1/2 bath downstairs, that's pretty regular - just don't go upstairs to where the Gen next set lives - I like to keep doors closed if you know what I mean!

I've had a few people say to me, "Your home must be gorgeous". My home is lived in and comfortable. I've also been told that there home isn't great and they were worried about me coming over to visit. I just tell them they can come to my house and take a look. This was when we visited some new friends.

Tina I so agree with you. We all need to remember that our friends come to see us - not our houses! However, what I say and what I do are two different things. My husband's relatives are coming to visit next week and I plan on doing the Q-tip type of cleaning before they get here. :) Betty

Elaine that is one cute puppy!

AUG

2008

Susan - I can only wish my husband minded a mess!

Elaine - Adorable! Like your dog, I say to my 3 year old, "Good thing you're cute! I wouldn't do this for an ugly kid!" LOL

Kathy - I'm happy to see that men from new generations give up looking for "house wives"

Virginia - I had a Roomba and it gave up on us and quit!

Donna - Thank you for making me feel like I'm not alone.

Karen - If I had it my way I would own a house with a small enclosed entrance with a solid door to the rest of the house!

Corina - Like Karen, I tell my clients the way in which we live is far removed from the way we live to sell but regardless of how their home looks like, I tell them they should see mine! This is great, when can I move in?" LOL

Betty - I do too! I just wish I didn't feel I had to, hence the revolution! We need to stick together and not clean up. LOL

Hi Tina

A very good topic, Yes it is very hard to keep the house clean and picked up at all times, I always tell my kids to keep the house in "Model room condition" they told me mom then it does not look Lived in, so let us all have this "Lived In" look. I can only take clutter for some time and then it gets on my nerves. I have learned to live with OHIO PRINCIPLE - ONLY HANDLE IT ONCE. If you do things while you are at it, clutter becomes manageable.

Shobha

Oh, my friends already know that if they want to visit a tidy home then they are going to have to let me know first. If they show up unexpectedly then there is just no chance of it. I have friends who are slightly OCD and for them I make sure I clean first (and they let me know they are coming) for the rest of them... they know what my house looks like. But then my house isn't for sale!

JAN

Tina, I know you wrote this a long time ago but I just came upon it and it really made me laugh and relate... Yes, stagers are normal people too... I don't want any visitors anytime soon...

I teach the CSP program in Halifax - hope you come as an allumni next time I'm there in July - you would be a great addition to the class, I'm sure!

As the traumatized child of an Interior Decorator, the house I grew up in was, indeed, immaculate and beautiful. We wore socks on our feet at all times and were not allowed to touch the arms of the couch, lest we soil the fabrics with our naturally-occuring body oils. We sat on the floor a lot, I recall.

My mother chose to expose me to daily residential cleanliness sessions, so I would not grow up without that back-bone. Today, however, I am a non-practicing clean freak.

~Michelle

Hi Tina- When neighbors stop by, they know my house is usually more presentable than I am! : ) For me, I always have the main social areas clean...not including the kitchen. I do chuckle when clients tell me thay they cleaned before I came....and I really don't see the mess in the first place! Thankfully, we women are no longer in the 50s and that defines our character....geesh, glad those days are gone! Regards-Kathleen G

Tina...oooh how I wish I could. Like Michelle M. my mom's house is almost always fastidiously clean, tidy and in order. Having been raised in that environment I have this guilt thing going on and when mom is coming to visit I have to clean for a week. I DO NOT live like her and will never achieve that sense of order. I think Michelle and I need to create a "club" for others with this dilemma. We also had a room of the house, THE FORMAL LIVING ROOM, where children we're not allowed to venture. YIKES what a waste! I do have to say that more and more people that come to my house get it for what it is because I hate trying to be something that I'm not.

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