Special offer

Let Me Introduce My Seller I have Never Met . . .

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Realty Services

 I have a new  listing in Darnestown, Maryland, that was the family home and we have been getting it ready to put on the market.   I was found as a direct result of Active Rain - I will post about that later.  I have never met the "owner" of this house.

As I have gone through the house with the Seller's sons, we have worked removing a lifetime worth of memories and personality from the house to get it ready for today's market.  Most items have been removed, but it is interesting as I have moved and gone through the house, I feel like I know the owner.

I would like to tell you about her just from the things I have discovered in her home.  First off she was a style maven for sure.  Baker, Henderdon, and custom draperies throughout.  Most items have now been removed, but it was top quality through out.

She was a girlie girl to be sure.  In a box, while looking for staging items, my stager and I found gloves, clutch purses of every color to match the shoes with the belts that all went together in her day.  Table lines, china, aprons.  They are fabulous. 

Beautiful suits hang in her closet that we will probably donate to women going on job interviews that cannot afford the suits.   I found an old mink coat in the hall closet (right next to the shot gun), it was THE fashion accessory back in the day. 

While staging I bought some of the small lamp shades to go on the chandeliers and dress up the sconces in the bathrooms.  For the powder room I got the kind with the crystals on the edge.  I showed them to her son and daughter in law.  The daughter in law said she would love  all of the things that the stager and I have done to the house, which made us happy.

I had put a big basket on the hearth of the fireplace and thought I would go into the garage to find some books to put in the basket.  I was moving a box when I discovered the photo you see here.  Instantly I fell in love with her.   It looks like a ballet or dance costume.  If you can't tell, she has a crown with a star on the front with her wand with it's star to match.  Then to round out the outfit her tulle outfit has wings and stars all over it.  I just fell in love with her all over again.  She is my kind of girl, I can't say it enough.

Real Estate, for me, is all about my clients and I am glad in a way I got to know this homeowner.  I will be taking photos of the home today and putting it on the market.   I have worked hard to live up to her standards as I can tell, her's was the gold standard.

Audreyjune.com   MovinMaryland.com

Comments (12)

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

The sweet side of real estate

Jan 15, 2009 01:28 AM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

Yep, sometimes we do things that make it all worth while. 

Jan 15, 2009 01:34 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Audrey- If houses could only talk.....it sounds to me like you guys did a great job, and like you I would love to sit and listen to the stories behind the pictures, and obviously once Social Lady.  Collored purses with matching gloves would be someone I would want to sit with for hours....just to hear the old stories :)  I too love that picture :)

Jan 15, 2009 01:51 AM
Alan Gross
PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Equal Housing Lender - Bethesda, MD
Loan Consultant

It's great you can get to know the homeowner by going through the house and getting it ready for sale. I guess she must be in a nursing home or assisted living facility since you haven't gotten an opportunity to meet her. If s she's local I'm sure she would enjoy a visit and know how much you enjoyed her home. I'm guessing one of the sons contacted you through Active Rain.

Jan 15, 2009 04:20 AM
April Hayden-Munson
Brookfield, WI
Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Audrey - How interesting and what a nice find for you  - I bet that house looks really impressive!

Jan 16, 2009 10:43 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Audrey...I realized while reading your post that this is something I miss out on.  Lake Anna is man made and only 37 years old so most of the homes are much newer than that.

That picture is lovely.  How adorable she was and how fortunate her family is to have a picture of her so young.

Kate

P.S.  I love your background.  How did you do it?

Jan 16, 2009 01:08 PM
Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing and Online Advertising Consultant
Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision - Lake Geneva, WI

Audrey,

What a wonderful story you shared.  Who knows, maybe her spirit lingers there and if so, it would probably be pleased by the care you were taking in getting to know her story.

Jan 21, 2009 07:46 AM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

Audrey June-Forshey, GRI, Gaithersburg, MD (RE/MAX Realty Group)-The old mink coat that you found in the closet,if you can't find no takers I would be more than happy to take it off your hands. But you can keep the gun though-LOL. Of course I am just messing with you Audrey. Congratulations on getting the listing Audrey. Looking forward to read and comment on the blog about it. Take care. Great post.

Jan 21, 2009 09:19 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

This is such a neat post, I'm glad I happened upon it.  The way you describe your seller, it sounds like you really have gotten to know her through her home.  Neat!

Jan 22, 2009 02:03 PM
Audrey June-Forshey
RE/MAX Realty Services - Darnestown, MD
GRI, Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks Everyone for your post.  When I found that picture, I felt like I found a treasure.  I just thought that photo was the greatest thing.  I wish it were mine, I took it to make a copy for this post and gave it back to the sons, but is a great photo.

Thanks again, I really wish I knew her when she was alive.

Jan 22, 2009 02:11 PM
Marian Goetzinger
Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Audrey,  I had a really tough day today and decided I really needed some fresh air.  So I went to this group and randomly picked a blog to read, hoping it would be fun.  Thanks.  It worked.

Jan 26, 2009 09:07 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

There have been times when I've had sellers, or worked with certain buyers, who have introduced me to realms I had never before dwelled :-)  The picture of the little girl, dressed as she is, in the period the picture was taken, would be one of those realms.

Jan 29, 2009 02:37 PM