07/04/2022
Twenty years ago this weekend I closed on my house in the Catskills. After years of renting a house up there every summer, I finally decided to buy one. The real estate agent showed me scores of homes. In less than 10 seconds, each one was a resounding "no" until I came to this house. It had been on the market for over a year. And when I walked in, I knew why. A frightening throwback to the 70's. Orange s**g carpet, dated wooden furnishings, wild wallpaper. There were tiny porthole like windows in a few rooms and pea green curtains hung throughout, covering the sliding door to the deck. The owners were bikers, so b***y biker babe posters were featured on the walls. Yikes!!!!
But what did I see immediately? HUGE POTENTIAL. An open LR/DR layout, two spacious bedrooms, stone fireplace, sliding doors to a deck with a jaw dropping view of mountain ranges. 5 acres of trees surrounding the house. Privacy. Yet access to a main county road. And much more.
I made an offer on the spot and closed on the sale a few months later on a steamy July 4 weekend. Then got to work. Out went the rugs and furniture. Down came the curtains and all the wallpaper. Added 15 windows throughout. Let the light and those views in! Brought in a washer dryer and dishwasher. So much more!
I hadn't started my staging business yet, but I look back and see that I've been transforming homes all my life.
So grateful to have the gift of vision to share with my clients, guide sellers to attract buyers and guide buyers to envision their perfect home.
So grateful! Happy 20th anniversary!!
