How OHS Helped a Widow
Occupied home staging is not just about making a house look pretty for photos. It’s about helping people get ready to sell their house, especially when their house has high sentimental value to them.
Not long ago, I was given the privilege to assist a newly widowed homeowner with their transition. They had recently lost their spouse and decided it was time to downsize. They were able to pack up most of their house on their own, but there were some things they couldn’t do without help:
Taking down their family portraits
Packing sentimental items
Moving heavy furniture
Organizing awkward spaces
I never move something without permission from the owner. There are some items people prefer to take care of on their own when they are ready. In this circumstance, there were sentimental items everywhere including family portraits on the walls. It is important to remove personal items such as family portraits due to concerns with online privacy. Naturally, this task was difficult for the widow and brought more tears as they reminisced the memories of their spouse. It truly broke my heart to see them in so much pain. After a moment of mourning they were grateful for me to pack their portraits for them.
A similar circumstance was found in their spouse’s workspace. The last album they listened to was on the record player and their tools were still scattered about from the last project they were working on. It was emotionally difficult for the widow to pack this area, but they accepted my help with decluttering the space for the listing photos.
Lastly, we were able to help the widow stage some of the spaces that were difficult for them to do on their own. One of the rooms featured a play area with a toddler bed that was custom-built deep into the wall. That space was no longer in use so I borrowed throw pillows and blankets from the living room to portray the space for the photo shoot. In the living room I rearranged the seating into two zones: one for the television and one for the fireplace. I prioritized keeping the space functional for socializing.
After completing the staging and photography of their house, the widow thanked us for our help. They were grateful they had someone to present their home with care in the ways that they couldn’t do on their own. Losing a loved one is never an easy experience especially when selling a home with so many memories is involved. These shared experiences with homeowners are one of the reasons we find meaning in our work.