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I am going to Stage my Mom's Childhood home - how cool is that?

By
Home Stager with Sensational Home Staging

55 years ago my mother lived in a small house in the area of Sacramento known as Land Park - near the old Tower Theatre.  After my grandparents moved away to another house, the small house changed hands several times and the neighborhood went downhill, and then was revived during an influx of people taking an interest in older historic homes near our state Capitol.  Over the years my Mom has stopped in to the neighborhood to see her childhood home but has not been inside since she was a young girl.

Flash forward to the present and I get a call from a homeowner that is not moving but wants help pulling their house together.  They are a new homeowner - been in this house about a year.  I asked the wife to tell me about the house and she described the old craftman style bungalow house that is very common in parts of Sacramento.  When I asked her what street it was one - she told the name - and I thought, "That name sounds really familiar."  It triggered in my head that my Mom grew up on that street because I remembered stories she told me of when she was young.

So I called my Mom and asked her, "What was your address?"  When she told me - I heard the old Twilight Zone music in my head. It is the very SAME house!

What are the odds that would happen?  What are the odds that I would be in a business that would help people pull their houses together (as well as Stage for sale) and that out of all the many business owners that Stage in our region this homeowner would call ME to stage her house - and it turns out to be my Mom's childhood home?  I think it is one for the record books or put in the category of the stars being aligned or something like that.

I have not seen the house yet - but will be helping these clients on Monday and I am so excited!  I told my Mom that she has to come when it's all done - and of course I will take lots of pictures.

- Jennie

Posted by

Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP-Premier, SRS, REO, Owner & Principal Stager, Sensational Home Staging serving the Greater Denver region

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Nancy Brenner
Referral Associates of Georgia, Inc. - Roswell, GA
Roswell Georgia Real Estate Agent
That is very cool, Jennie!  Maybe your Mom has pictures of the house from when she lived there?  It might be fun for the new owners to see what it looked like all those years ago.
Feb 08, 2008 04:34 PM
Libby Cousins
Extraordinary Processing - Spokane, WA
Contract Mortgage Processor, licensed in WA
That is amazing! What a great story and how fun for you (and your mom)! It is a bit mind-blowing when you consider the odds. Please post pictures of it when you are done if the homeowners will allow it. I agree with Nancy, I think the homeowners would love to see pictures of the way it was.
Feb 08, 2008 04:38 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
There's some serendipity at work here for sure Jennie!  I would love to be in your shoes and have that opportunity.  I bet the new owners would love to see any older photos, as Nancy mentioned.  How fun.
Feb 08, 2008 04:38 PM
Deborah Burns ~ Seattle Real Estate Agent
Realty Executives -BRIO - Seattle, WA
That is a really cool, and wonderful opportunity!  If your mom does have photos like Nancy suggests, you will have some extra interesting "before and after" photos!   : )
Feb 08, 2008 04:39 PM
Todd and Danielle Millar
Glenn Simon Inc. - Edmonton, AB
Nineteen years of excellence!
What an incredible coincidence/piece of fate. I would love to see the pictures and old ones of when your mother lived there.
Feb 08, 2008 04:40 PM
Jennie Norris
Sensational Home Staging - Littleton, CO
Denver Regions Premier Home Staging Resource,

You are right - I am sure I can dig up old photos of the house.  My Mom has some old albums and so I will ask her. Her sister lives in the area too - she may have some pictures as well. - Jennie

Feb 08, 2008 04:40 PM
Jackie Peraza
Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA
Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Jennie - This has to be one for the books.  Definitely, if possible early before pics would be awesome and I can't wait to see what you'll do with the home.

This one is a gem!

Jackie

Feb 08, 2008 04:53 PM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Jennie ~ That is crazy!  You're right, it is a Twilight Zone feeling.  (I think there is a Twilight Zone group on here that would get a kick out of your story).

Will you tell the client that it was your Mom's childhood home?  I would imagine there have been many changes over the years. 

Feb 09, 2008 12:28 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging
That is a great thing!  It does seem very much like the stars were in perfect alignment or something.... very very cool....
Feb 09, 2008 01:33 AM
Kathy Riggle
STAGING SMART N SOLD - Houston, TX
Houston Home Staging

This is such an amazing experience! Looking forward to a followup post-Chapter 2!

Kathy

Feb 09, 2008 01:46 AM
Jennie Norris
Sensational Home Staging - Littleton, CO
Denver Regions Premier Home Staging Resource,
I did tell the client - she thought is was cool and quirky at the same time.  I think she is as intrigued as I am at how this all came about. :)  I will post way before (if I can find them), now before, and afters on the site. . . - Jennie
Feb 09, 2008 04:12 AM
Cindy Lin
Staged4more School of Home Staging - South San Francisco, CA
Host, The Home Staging Show podcast

That is so cool! It must be very cool to relive some childhood memories ;)

Cheers,

Cindy 

Feb 27, 2008 12:28 PM
Marla Hofstee
Design by Marla - Burbank, CA
Design by Marla- Home Staging, Burbank & Los Angeles, CA

That is a very coincidental contact.

Not quite as coincidental but I live in a home that overlooks the home I grew up in.  I always loved the neighborhood and when a home came on the market in the neighborhood, I moved back.

Feb 27, 2008 12:58 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Can't wait to see the photos Jennie! How very fun for you and your mother!!

Cathy Lee, ASP  

Feb 27, 2008 02:00 PM
Betty Haney
Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB
Jennie what a wonderful thing to happen.  It would be pretty cool if you could show some pictures of the way your mom lived in the house years ago and how it looks today.  Betty
Feb 27, 2008 02:44 PM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Hi Jennie,

I just read your story about your Mom's old house.  I think that is so touching and was obviously something that was supposed to happen in your life.  Were you able to get your Mom over to the house after the staging?  

Michelle Pimentel,ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging Solutions-So. CA

Apr 02, 2008 05:25 AM