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Don't clean your parents home before--------part1

By
Home Stager with Stage-Show-Sell

My clients frequently tell me they want to clean out their parents home before I look at it.

Frequently they are a little embarrassed at the condition of the home and need to make themselves better about it before I see it.

MY RESPONSE is a resounding NO. Don't clean out.  Don't pitch anything away.

Most of the time clients pitch out money.  Not only the folding green that we call money but valuables that can be sold.

Stage-Show-Sell, LLC can go thru the items and look for family treasures and valuables that can be sold for the family.

This means that we do the work and the family reaps the reward.  We take the stress off the families shoulders.  We eliminated the family tensions when they try to figure out who can work on the house at what time.  We get the house market ready in recording breaking time.

Our fees are usually covered by the treasures we find and sell. The stress we take off of the family is priceless

We find, on many occasions, items that the family would pitch away.  In one estate we found a receipt that was 3 years old for a safety deposit box.   Normally the family would pitch it away thinking it's old and the box is not current.   Not only was it current and contained valuables. Valuables that would have been taken over by the state when the fees on the box were not paid.

Another estate we found tons of bearer bonds.  I mean tons.  Enough to have paid off the mortgage on the house.

As family members become older and ill they forget where they have hidden items. 

My mother used to hide her spare cash in the stove vent!!!

So no, don't clean your parents home before Stage-Show-Sell, LLC can get in there an have a look.

 

 

Posted by

Stage-Show-Sell, offers affordable home staging solutions in the Birmingham - Bloomfield and surrounding areas in getting your home ready for the market. We service both home sellers and realtors. We have the experience, our own rental furniture and accessories to stage many homes. We specialize in Estate work. The house can be put into our hands for the whole process of getting the house on the market

 

Gay E. Rosen
Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY
As Real as Real Estate Gets!

Hi Virginia - good advice. My mom- knowing she was very ill left notes in vases, containers around the house..... nagging from beyond may she rest in peace!  I am sure you have found many great treaures over the years. Best, Gay

Jan 02, 2011 04:53 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Really good advise.  Sometimes what appears to be junk can also be very valuable stuff.

Jan 02, 2011 04:54 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Virginia, that's a great service you offer to your clients.  Sometimes cleaning out a house is a daunting task.  Happy New Year and much success to you in 2011!

Jan 02, 2011 04:58 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

wow, that's an interesting and specialized service that you offer.  I'd be curious to hear about the most valuable things you've found ... (I mean how much were they worth?)

Jan 02, 2011 04:58 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Virginia, I admire that you tackle this end of the home preparation business.  I just saw a house where 90 year olds resided and it appeared empt/vacant.  THEN, I started opening cupboards and closets.  They were jam-packed and it make a quiver.  I probably should have offered to help the agent clean them out but she didn't want to do it either.  Hopefully the heirs will do it soon, uncover some treasures, and move forward.  Happy New Year!

Jan 02, 2011 05:43 AM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Ginger, I need a vacation in California.   Call me :-)

Alan, maybe that will be my next post.

Pamela, I love doing the work.  My crew is great and they know what to look for.

Gene, what's junk and what' treasure is in the buyer's eyes.  Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Gay, you made me laugh.  Your mom was controlling but she did get the message out....didn't she.   It may not be the messaage we want to hear.

Jan 02, 2011 06:03 AM
Craig Snead
Quality Home Investments, LLC / Dearborn Heights, MI - Dearborn Heights, MI
Real Estate Investor

Virginia, one man's trash is another man's treasure. People have different values when it comes to material possessions. I have heard of some people in their eighties and nineties that have hidden large sums of cash in a home because they didn't trust the banks.

Jan 02, 2011 07:47 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Virginia ~ I hope that sellers in your area are reading this and taking down your number!  It's amazing where people hide valuables, and it's a great service you provide your clients.

Jan 02, 2011 07:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

We found cash behind photos inside frames when we cleaned out my mother-in-laws house.  You are so right about people throwing away valuables.  This is great advice to people handling estates.

Jan 02, 2011 09:09 AM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Valerie, you are so cute.  I can't believe that you would be hiding stuff.

Craig, we have sold items that I would never think could be sold.  That's why it's so important for family members not to go through the 'stuff'.  To them it's stuff to Stage-Show-Sell it's a treasure

Yes many of the elderly hide cash and other items.  Sometimes they hide it so well that they can't find it again.

Maureen, from your lips to god's ears.

Sharon, you were wise in looking behind photos. That's just one of many places to hide valuables.

Jan 02, 2011 09:24 AM
Amy Bly
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying

Wow, not a job I would want to take on -- and I would no doubt need training and education to know the trash from the treasure anyway -- but it is a great service to offer! Good for you for thinking of it (and being wiling to do it!).

Jan 02, 2011 11:41 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Virginia- great point you make.  I know that one of the services south of me trains her crew to thumb through each book before they pack it.  Like you, they've found not only cash but receipts, etc.  You offer a great service!

Jan 02, 2011 02:12 PM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Amy, thanks for commenting.  I try to do everything that's necessary to help the families AND it's enjoyable.

Kathy, the books can hide lots of things.  They are smart packers.

Jan 02, 2011 02:38 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Virginia-this is such a wonderful service you provide for your clients. We found $3000 in cash in a purse and the family was thrilled we gave it to them. The bills were very old-who knows how many years they had been in there!!! 

Jan 02, 2011 03:31 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Great advice, Virginia. You just never what you'll find. In addition, and as you point out, professional stagfers understand what works and what doesn't. So in addition to perhaps finding treasures, you are able to lend incredible support as to what to keep and what not to.

Great post.

Kathy

Jan 02, 2011 11:45 PM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Cathy, doesn't it give you such a great feeling to know that you have made right decision.  How many would just pocket it?

Kathy, you are so right.  When I've sold all the stuff that they were going to send to the trash or donate and give them anywhere from 3 to 15 thousand dollars. The money pays for my services and takes the stress off of them

Jan 03, 2011 01:38 AM
Beth Lester
Beth Lester Designs - Torrance, CA
Home Staging & Interior Decorating

Virginia, do you charge an hourly fee for this type of service?

Jan 03, 2011 07:22 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Virginia, I recently found this out myself. It was the first time a client left town and asked me to sort through everything for him and sell or donate what I found. I called in my contact for content sales. Nothing had really been bought since the 70's and I thought there wouldn't be much to sell. Boy was I wrong! They came away with $13, 500 .  Now that was a well received surprize.

Jan 04, 2011 02:03 PM
Anonymous
Marilynn Currie

I did a consult for a client who had $10,000 in rolled and loose coins on the Master bedroom floorI suggested that he bank it--- immediately. But when the cleaner came two days later--- it was still there! The Realtor finally convinced him to bank the monies. i still wonder where he got all the coins---- did he own several coin operated laundries or what? Never did find out.  Do I feel a book coming on about strange stories in staging land!

Marilynn Currie from the raining west coast.

Jan 05, 2011 08:40 AM
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