... In A Vacant Property?
The other day as I was driving home and a silly squirrel about ran under my rotating tires, I was reminded of a time awhile back during the winter when I had, "The Scariest Vacant House Encounter" of my Staging career.
One of my agents had asked me to tour a vacant property to do my usual report and rental quote. Since NAR doesn't yet think it is necessary for Stagers to have E-key access, the agent had left a punch code lock box on the door (slight point made there). Whenever I tour a vacant property I try to be very aware of my surroundings, ring the bell first in case there is SOMEONE there, let myself in when nobody answers and then lock the door behind me. I always keep my cell phone and keys on me.
This particular property was mostly unremarkable - dated wallpaper and fixtures, some gross stuff in the bathrooms, badly stained carpets, trash on the kitchen counters, the usual.
I had looked through most of the main level and part of the basement when I noticed THEM. Frozen like little statues above the curtain rod surrounding the patio sliding doors were TWO squirrels!! They were so still that at first I thought they were some terrible decor idea gone wrong (believe me, it would have coordinated with the rest of the house). I also quickly froze and stared at them - silently daring them to move to prove that they were real.
A moment later one of them twitched, confirming my worst suspicion. Since I had so carefully locked the front door behind me when I arrived I began desperately trying to unlock the door so I could escape. It was a tricky one but luckily I was able to get the door opened before the squirrels could attack me and of course I just KNEW that they were going to attack, because isn't that what squirrels do when they get a human cornered alone in a vacant house?
Well, the agent and I got a good laugh out of that one, although I refused to enter the home again until the sqiurrels were removed and premises were secured against future wild life entry.
What's the scariest or strangest thing you have encountered when Staging????
Ross Designs, LLC Omaha's Premier, Full Service Home Staging Company
OABR & WCR Affiliate Member
www.ross-designs.com for more information and photo gallery.
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