Thursday, November 14, 2013

Tip Toeing Around My House that Doesn't Really Seem Like My House

Well the house has officially been on the market since last Friday.  In case I haven't mentioned, this is the first house I've bought and therefore the first I've sold.  Needless to say, the whole staging-a-house-and-pretending-that-you-don't-live-there-while-you-are-really-living-there is a new experience for me. It's more enjoyable than going to the dentist---but just barely.  I'm sure some of you can relate to the following:

I spend a lot of time Swiftering.

I spend a lot of time straightening the nice new towels (that I don't use) and hiding the old everyday towels that I actually use in the washing machine or empty drawers in the vanity.

I spend a lot of time stashing everyday things like mail, a wall calendar, books, magazines, coffee grinder, coffee canister, bananas, bread, dish scrubby, stapler, salt & pepper shakers, and remote controls in various places--some of which I may or may not remember by the time I get home from work.

I tend to hermit myself away in one room (my bedroom) because the rest of the house is big and empty and doesn't look like my house and I'm afraid to get fingerprints on the windows, a smudge on anything, or get dirt on the the brand-new carpet. Not to mention mussing the pillows or moving the artfully arranged magazines on the coffee table.

I do not spend time thinking about strangers rambling around my house when I'm not there because this would make me neurotic more neurotic.

There is not a speck of fabric anywhere to be seen.

I spend the vast majority of my time missing S. and the cats.

With the power of modern technology, at least I get daily updates and photos.




5 comments:

Wendy said...

I'm in my third house, which means I've sold two (literally sold two, because we don't use realtors). In my last house, I'd wipe down the kitchen counters using a drop of cinnamon oil just before the people arrived. I've heard that the smell of freshly baked bread or cookies also has a positive affect on potential buyers. Good luck!

dianne said...

i always hated having to seem like i didn't live in my home - especially since the LAST time, i had four kids and had to be in THEIR stuff all the time, too ... but when i am looking at houses to buy, i don't want to see rooms that look like they are ready for their BH&G closeups - i want to see that it is really a home to somebody ... still, staging seems to work...

i hope that your house sells soon so you can go home...

Michele said...

A friend of mine kept a few cardboard boxes in the garage, not unexpected since you are moving, and threw all the "oh no what do I do with this someone is coming to see the house stuff" there. When I sold my last house the people that bought it came in when it didn't look very good. It was clean but not in showing the house shape.....toys scattered around, fingerprints, dinner not cleaned up yet. And they wanted to but it after one visit! Made me sorry I spent all that time cleaning it for the other visits! I guess you never know!

Sinta Renee said...

Sounds like you got left behind in your new life! You will catch up with yourself soon... don't worry! The house will sell and you will be reunited with all things YOU again!

Sparky said...

You make my heart smile