By Jessica Pack
This Canal Winchester home was a home that Sanctuary staged for one of our clients that we have worked with before. We sometimes work with repeat customers whether that be realtors, contractors, investors, etc. It’s quite a compliment that they come back for our proven services. This was one of our repeat relationships, and he just so happens to be a real estate agent and an investor.
To some degree, Sanctuary is bigger than just our staging company team members. I see people like this particular investor and our professional movers enough, that they almost feel like co-workers. We learn about each other and it’s nice not to have to start over completely every time our paths cross. We have come to know him well enough that he brought us in to stage a very special home. He gave us the full low-down on the home.
Turned out that it was his dad’s home when he was young. Originally, he was sentimental about it and was going to move in. Then, he decided to fix it up before moving in. Then, he did a complete 180 and made it an investment property. Let me just say that this house was GORGEOUS! I can see why he would have considered carrying on the family legacy and establish roots there a second time around. What he brought to this 2800 square foot ranch was nothing short of amazing. His renovation not only upped the living space to 4200 square feet, it brought a home built in the 80’s into 2021 with many high-end amenities.
If I had to move, this would be the style to which I am drawn…inside and out. The property was over 7 acres and the home looked out over a 2-acre pond. On our move-in day, I was working in the primary bedroom ironing the bedding. The entire back of the first floor was nothing but windows. I had my ironing board propped up to enjoy the view while I worked but I was more like the distracted dog, Dug, from “Up” because a leaf would fall and it was like “Squirrel!!!!” I found myself drawn into the colors of the autumn trees reflecting in the pond. Truth be told, I found myself bemused by everything around me.
The house was one squirrel moment after the next because there were so many interesting features to behold. Look… coffered ceilings with inlayed wood-Squirrel!!! Check out these lights-Squirrel!!! A wet bar in the living room?-Squirrel!! Two-story stone fireplace?!—Squirrel!! This kitchen is HUGE-Squirrel!!!!!!!! Talk about a “ruff” (ha ha) day on the job.
The home was so incredibly beautiful, that our staging was about as easy as it comes. The most difficult consideration was selecting which best features to highlight since there were so many. Aside from the view, he opened up the attic space and created a second floor loft where there wasn’t one prior. By doing so, the whole house transformed visually into spectacular vaulted ceiling masterpiece. Potential buyers could now look over the railing at the living space below. I didn’t want to leave. I could see myself on the sofa with a cozy fire aglow as I watched some television. Alas, I lacked the $1.5 million needed to permanently perch my feet there. This home was a very memorable listing.
The investor worked some special magic on his childhood home and we got to be the cherry on top of his vision. We also can claim to forever be part of this home’s story. It seemed like the house sold in about 35 seconds which didn’t surprise me in the slightest… and that was when he pulled the Dug and asked if we could stage another of the homes he was renovating… his brother’s house. And so it goes. Squirrel!!
