Special offer

Staging the Back Yard for Emotional Appeal: Garden Sculpture in Tucson, AZ

By
Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

Garden art: face sculpture graces a pond in my Tucson, Arizona backyardYou don't notice him right away; he's quiet and unassuming.  He blends in with the granite boulders that define my goldfish pond.  The artist who created him as "outdoor art" lives and works in Colorado.

When I first met his gaze, he was looking out of a glass case in a small gallery in Chandler, AZ.

"What's his story?" I asked the young lady behind the counter.

"Oh," she replied.  "We only have two faces, both done by the same artist, but they're designed for a different clientele than we have in Arizona.  We haven't sold any."

I suggested that we change her batting average, because I knew exactly where he belonged--my new acquisition.

He's been looking down at the fish ever since, delighting my grandchildren and friends who come over for dinner. 

You can see his eyes if you look at his reflection in the water, and he seems to smile when you do that.

Here's a link to one of Tucson's finest garden outlets!

Attention to detail in staging the outdoor living space is just as important as staging the interior. 

It just takes a little thought to create an atmosphere that will ignite the buyers' emotion, and that in turn will ignite your sale!

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, Arizona mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your local expert.

Comments(21)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - Hillsborough, NJ

Mik!

Your garden is awesome!  I love gardening too and I love the face.

Caryn

 

Jun 15, 2008 03:03 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mike, I agree that attention to detail is where it is at with staging AND getting houses sold. Very cool desert garden.

Jun 15, 2008 03:07 PM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Mike...This corner of your garden has lots of appeal.  When I first saw the photo I thought it may have come from a gardening magazine or book.  Beautiful job.

Thank you,

Kathleen

Jun 15, 2008 03:23 PM
Fran Gatti
RE/MAX Integrity - Medford, OR
Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity

Gorgeous picture.  Landscaping is the most enjoyable way to add appeal to the home.

Jun 15, 2008 04:30 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Mike:  Love the photo and your story of your sculpture--I really had to look for him b/c I couldn't get past the beautiful geraninum and pot!

Debe in Charlotte

Jun 15, 2008 05:15 PM
Sun City Grand Homes Surprise AZ Real Estate Leolinda Bowers Designated Broker Leolinda Realty
Leolinda Realty - Surprise, AZ
Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona

Innovative idea!  Great to have something similar in almost any water feature.

Jun 15, 2008 06:22 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

I love other people's gardens, water features, etc.  I've learned that I don't have time (or is it the inclination?) to take care of them, so enjoy seeing what others do, and love your plants and stones.

Jun 15, 2008 08:08 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Mike,

It is amazing how your focus changes once you see him.  I was looking at the flowers and once I saw him my eyes kept going back past the flowers.  Give them, buyers & sellers, something to look at.

Don R.

Jun 15, 2008 10:25 PM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

Wow - I LOVE him!  What a great addition to your garden and an absolute conversation piece.

Jun 15, 2008 10:36 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

I LOVE garden sculptures.  I'd send a photo of mine but it's full of drying Daffodils and Tulips right now.  Maybe later.

Jun 16, 2008 12:47 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

placeholder to return comments

Mike in Tucson

Jun 16, 2008 03:51 AM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

I have a "Happy Hada" in my yard.  Use to be at my Grandmother's house... It's heavy, scarred, discolored concrete (most people call it a "Buddha" but I've always called it Hada) and it moves mystically from one corner of the garden to another depending on what is blooming (currently hiding with the lantanas)!

Jun 17, 2008 12:07 AM
Rob Muller
ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA
Cherokee County Real Estate

What a great conversation piece when you have friends and family over. Glad you were able to provide a good happy place for him.

Jun 17, 2008 12:15 AM
Kevin McGourty
Realty ONE Group - Phoenix, AZ

Good tip. 

Jun 17, 2008 08:41 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY

Your garden is beautiful!

Jun 18, 2008 09:41 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate
Wow I barely grow dirt in my backyard and a sculpture is a footprint of some animal.
Jun 18, 2008 10:42 AM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

Great composition Mike.  Very nice shot.  I love ponds, but not sure I want the job of taking care of one.  :) 

Jun 23, 2008 06:39 PM
Debbie Wheeler
Real Estate Staging/Rooms Rearranged, LLC - Chandler, AZ
Chandler, AZ Rooms Rearranged RESA, IRIS

Hi Mike,

I remember this picture from our network meeting..it looks great!  You are right, staging the exterior is as important as the interior.  We always tell our clients "interior/exterior - it's a whole package with buyers".

I still plan on calling you Mike.  I seriously need your help getting my pictures uploaded.

Jun 25, 2008 11:14 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT

I put up a blog a while back about landscaping a listing to get top dollar for it...appealing to the emotions is one of the best ways to get someone to buy a home.  Nice post, my man.

Jun 26, 2008 01:10 AM
Gary Miljour
American Financial Network, Inc. NMLS#207208 - Southern Pines, NC
Mortgage Originator NMLS Licensed in AZ and NC

All I can say Mike is that you always take the most beautiful pictures.

Jun 27, 2008 08:47 PM