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Seriously....do I really need to "STAGE" the snow too?

By
Home Stager with Apostle Art Home Staging & Design

We got a bit of the white stuff yesterday...about 6-8 inches. It was the light and fluffy kind...not great for snowballs but perfect for shoveling...especially when your driveway is over 70 feet long like mine!!!

So my husband sets out, shovel in hand...he is on a mission. I come out to help...I am on a mission too...

Apostleart Snow

...to take photos of the deer tracks on the lawn! Just kidding...I took the photos AFTER I helped shovel...LOL!!

So he starts blasting through, throwing snow here, throwing it there, he wants to get out!

What do I do?

I methodically choose a starting point, develop a plan of action and proceed to remove the white stuff in a highly organized fashion. Line by line, row by row, making sure it is cleared right up to the rocks that line the driveway forming a wall on either side. I go back, retrace my steps, making sure the surface is level and clean and even everywhere.

My husband...he's been gone an hour already!

Staging runs through my veins...I cant switch it off... it resides in the very fiber of my being!

...and not a snowflake out of place!

 

 

 

Posted by

 ~Apostle Art Home Staging & Design offers professional Home Staging services to sellers, real estate agents and investors, as well as Design Services for homes and businesses located in the Pocono Mountains Region and beyond. www.apostleart.com ~

If you are selling your home or are a Real Estate Agent with Vacant or Occupied listing located in North Eastern Pennsylvania, The Pocono Mountains, Greater Stroudsburg Area and beyond...Please call us now so we can bring life to your listing and get you results with our Professional Home Staging Services...570-972-7939.

 

Laura Sargent
Carolina One Real Estate - Mount Pleasant, SC

Cute post!  I grew up in Minnesota but I've only sold real estate in South Carolina and for weather reasons I'm very glad we don't have snow and ice here!

Jan 13, 2011 02:23 AM
Jeff Lundquist
United Country Premier Real Estate - Annandale, MN
Jeff Lundquist

Good blog. Thanks for the laugh to start the day.

Jan 13, 2011 02:24 AM
Maria Couto
RE/MAX Premier - Berkeley Heights, NJ
Realtor with "Results That "MOVE" You'

I'm not a stager, but I did take classes for staging, and truthfully it was not something I enjoyed, I just wanted to know about the process. I do use stagers because I find it is easier of course to sell a listing faster, but sellers take ideas much better from "you" the stager than a Realtor. I have great admiration for the work it entails. I admire your work ethic-if you are going to do something do it correctly. Kudos for your perseverance.

Jan 13, 2011 02:28 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Laura~ Lucky you! You can imagine what it's like to stage or show homes in the winter...not a whole lot of fun! Getting vacant sellers to keep their driveways and pathways clear is another great challenge. I have had clients who let it build up and then when they finally sent someone over to plow, they had 2 feet if ice everywhere.

I guess that's what we get for living on top of a mountain!! :)

Jan 13, 2011 02:29 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Jeff~ My pleasure! I am just glad it's done...ready for the next storm.

Maria~  "...sellers take ideas much better from "you" the stager than a Realtor." Oh... if only I could convince more of my local realtors of that!! It is soooo true though. We get sellers to do way more that you can imagine. They listen to us because we are there for one purpose only...focus on the presentation part of the puzzle!!! It's one of the key pieces...leave it out and you've got a big hole!

 

Jan 13, 2011 02:36 AM
Gail C. Harris
Resource Network, LLC SFR, AHWD, ACRE, SMAR Board Director - Chesapeake Beach, MD
Reach the BEACH with Gail C. Harris (cell: 703.868

Sounds like a great plan.  I checked out your website. It's very soothing.  I can't wait to see your site when you've posted some items for sale.  Do let me know. :) Gail

Jan 13, 2011 03:55 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Valerie -  you got me laughing with this post.  You and my husband are so alike in this.  I often get neighbours jokingly complaining about how he makes their drives look bad!   I swear he takes out a square and measuring tape with him.  Not a flake would dare remain on his clean pavement with its precision edges. 

Good for you and good for him -  I admire you both!

Jan 13, 2011 06:12 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Gail~Thanks...will do...I just need 30 hours in a day and I'm good...LOL!!!

Susan~There is usually one in the family! Hmmmm....measuring tape... great idea!

David~ Ya...I know I need help!

There a was actually a purpose to my anal retentiveness though...

You see, If we just clear a path big enough to get through now, what happens in a few days when everything freezes? We end up with solid ice that will not melt until May. So....by clearing all the snow neat and tidy, I am leaving room for the next big storm and each consecutive storm that will pile up and pile up and shrink the driveway even more...especially if I am not here to clear it!! See my point???

OK....I know... denial is the first sign you have a problem!!!

 

Jan 13, 2011 06:59 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

You can't organize the snowflakes Valerie! LOL! Don't you just hate it when that pristine snow gets messed up ;).

Jan 13, 2011 07:26 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Valerie - You mean you didn't shape little tables and chairs out of snow and put a centrepiece with pinecones?... 

Jan 13, 2011 10:56 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Valerie, I was out there too, Joe is not allowed to lift a shovel since his heart attack, so he went on his tractor and pushed snow around while my son did the walkways, and I did the chicken coop and cleaned off the cars. Then I had a snowball fight with my son, and my aim was better!

Jan 13, 2011 11:07 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Janice~ Are you sure about that? Hey at least I didn't try to smooth out the deer tracks from the lawn too!!!

Sally,Sally, Sally...you crack me up! But, no...the snow was too light and fluffy. Not good for packing...maybe next time!!!

Ellen~ I hear you. that is why I was out too. My husband broke his back 17 mnths ago and he is still hurting...but VERY stubborn so he insisst on going out and doing it. I tried to drag my son out of bed to help but that seemed like even  more work...LOL

PS...did you get me email asking about your hubby??? It has been acting up so i am not sure if it got to you. I hope he is recovering well.

 

Jan 13, 2011 11:49 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Valerie, I did get it, and I replied as well. Things are going ok, he needs to change his meds, these make him yell all the time and act somewhat depressed. I'll e-mail you again when I've got time. Thanks for asking.

Jan 13, 2011 12:42 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Ok - staging the snow  might be a bit extreme... lol....

Jan 13, 2011 01:43 PM
Tori Toth
Tori Toth, International - Howard Beach, NY
888.667.6643 NYC & Beyond, HSR, SAR, RESA, LIBOR

I hear you Valerie, the snow in my front yard is a mess right now..

Jan 13, 2011 02:07 PM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Ellen~ We just got a new computer so my email is all messed up! I am not gettting any notifications from AR at the moment.

Melissa~ I suppose, but I JUST CAN'T HELP IT!!!

Tori~ Do you need some help? I travel...LOL!

 

Jan 13, 2011 10:15 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I was just getting ready to comment what Sally wrote and there it was LOL!!!! Clever post!!

Jan 14, 2011 03:21 AM