Since the last time I wrote about our lifestyle change things have moved on at a cracking pace. The renovations and cleaning have all been completed, with a few hic ups along the way. The more they did the more problems came to light. There goes the budget! Sometimes getting too friendly with your tradies is not a good thing, it then feels awkward bringing unfinished projects up.
We have made many trips to our local tip and charity shops. I have had sleepless nights thinking about what needs to be done the next day. Going from room to room and back again with half completed chores.
The last two weeks we have had movers in to take much of our furniture into storage and packed up all of our ornaments. I have successfully managed to sell many of our carpets and ornaments. A good lesson was learnt here, things are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. I forgot to make notes of who was coming and when, which caused confusion. I persuaded one couple to take a different shelf unit instead of the one they came for! Resulting in them driving home with their boot open.
The staging company were next. They were here for two days bringing in many lorry loads of furniture, ornaments and bedding. I can’t say I liked some of the furniture but as I have paid now I had to let them do their thing. Say goodbye to control.
There are numerous plants, pots and cushions around the house. I have had to take photos of how the beds are made. Also must remember to chop the cushions!
A few photos below of the many cushions we have on the beds. I am tempted to open these bottles before we’ve finished.
Sadly my boys (Zac and Rufus) have had their noses put out of joint as they are no longer allowed on the sofas, which are a pristine white. These have been completely swathed in old sheets and blankets to keep them white.
Finally we are done and we’ve gone live. We will be waiting with baited breath to see the reactions of potential buyers, although we will not be allowed in the house while this takes place. The transformation has been remarkable, and we hope that our hard work will pay off. The next chapter will now find us looking for a home that we loved as much as this one.
See you soon!
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I hope all your hard work pays off soon.
Thanks so do I 😊
Just reading this made me all stressed. Hope it doesn’t give you more headaches. Good luck.
Thanks Teresa 😊
Good luck with the house sale and house hunting
Thanks Sheree ☺️
So this is how it’s done now? All this effort for someone else’s benefit, Aly! And whoever started the silly cushions trend? You have to throw them all on the floor before you can get in. But I wish you luck with the sale and hope you soon find a buyer and, more importantly, somewhere that you want to live. In the same location, or doesn’t that matter so much as size? xx
Same sort of area but a cheaper suburb. The cushions are a nightmare and I’ve already had to have her back to show me how to make the bed with all the different covers. People are buying a lifestyle not a house. Our first home open is tomorrow and I have to have the house looking pristine and skedaddle
No pressure! Off somewhere nice for lunch, and breathe xx
I can’t begin to contemplate the challenge of downsizing and decluttering that may well face us one day, and I’m not at all surprised it gave you sleepless nights! I’m glad that phase is behind you now. I still find this whole ‘staging’ concept weird and it seems like an extra expense (and a lot of extra hassle) built into the house moving process for no good reason, because anyone buying the property will want to put their own stamp on it. But I guess if everyone else there does it then you have to. I hope it never becomes a ‘thing’ over here!
If you are thinking of moving then I can only advise start clearing things now!
The staging process was extremely stressful as none of it is my taste and we had some very passive aggressive conversations! It’s weird when you go to look at other houses you can see they’ve been staged as they all look the same. As you say they have no imagination
I would much rather see how the people selling it have made use of and lived in the property as that helps you imagine if it could be right for you.
Looks great! Good luck.
Hope your viewings go well Alison. I can only imagine how stressful the decluttering process was coupled with having to put your own furniture into storage and cope with the stylistic furnishings.