The Trauma Room
In every home there is at least one room, space or cubby that holds special sentimental significance to the home seller. It is the place that if they could, they would take with them into their new digs. Any professional home stager knows that this area requires kid gloves and a tender heart and when I make my rounds throughout a home, I know my visit is not complete until I have made a stop in the Trauma Room.
The trauma room may contain the doorway where the kids’ heights were measured every year, the mural that your cousin painted for you, the pool table that was a wedding present and is not too big to take with you on your downsize or in the case of one client…the giant model train room that was built over decades and used by his grandchildren.
It’s never easy to wrap your brain around the idea that the new owner may not find your sentimental item worth keeping. It may be beautiful, it may have taken a lot of time to construct, but at the end of the day, they may jettison it, paint over it or otherwise remove the element you found to be priceless.
I get it, I really do and when I recently worked with the gentleman who had constructed this massive train room, I couldn’t help marveling at the time and effort he had taken to complete this miniature village. I too would love to see a home buyer walk through with young children and understand the charm of this unique area, but chances are, they are not going to want his hobby taking up their new living space. They may ask him to remove it prior to their move in and when he no longer has the space for it, he may have to make the heartbreaking decision to dismantle and discard it.
Making your way out of the trauma room is not always easy but it is not insurmountable. When you understand that nothing can take those precious memories from you, you can move on knowing that if the piece stays behind and is transformed, the memories associated with it follow you and will be a part of your life no matter where you are or where you go.
We create stylish, warm and welcoming houses that captures the buyers’ attention from the moment they are introduced to the property. We focus on the buyer demographics, the selling features, life style selling techniques and the strategic placement of furniture, art, and accessories that translates to a powerful marketing tool. Contact us today. 317-209-9801 or at homemattersllc.com