Simple Staging evolved naturally from decluttering our client’s homes. In fact, the two tasks pretty much work in tandem. As we declutter, we begin to discover each of our client’s personal style. It is always there. It is just buried beneath too much stuff. In full disclosure, we are not interior designers. We do, however, have a natural eye for style in the home. Carefully curating what we have found in your home helps save money and tells a story that is personal to you. That can be evocative to potential tenants/buyers when it is time to list.
Cassie Ward, a client and now friend, needed help decluttering and minimally staging her NYC apartment. She had been referred to us by Janet Brenner, from Compass Real Estate. Janet is a terrific agent that is always thinking outside the box. She knew that Cassie’s apartment would photograph/show better after a good purge and we are so grateful that she decided to give us a call. We absolutely loved working with Cassie and her rescue dog, Cowboy. Her incredible parents, Bob and Kenda, have also become clients. The Ward Family has become family to us, so we decided to interview Cassie and share it with you:
How long have you lived in NYC?
I was born and raised in NYC (so more years than I care to admit lol). I left for college and law school, and soon after finishing law school, I moved into an apartment where I lived for 14 years.
Why were you ready to move/sell?
My apartment was very much a starter apartment. It had a lot of charm, but was small and in a walk-up building. I had the opportunity to move into a bigger apartment in a building with more amenities that I couldn't pass up.
How did you feel when Janet recommended SimplifyNYC to you?
I was VERY apprehensive. I had "collected" a lot of stuff while living in my last apartment and was really dragging my feet about decluttering and moving, partially because I thought it would be a huge effort and partially because leaving an apartment you've been in for that long can also be an emotional experience.
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Were there any challenges asking for help with this project?
The biggest challenge for me was actually making and committing to the decision that I was going to move and sell my apartment. After that, once Janet saw I was still dragging my feet and not making much progress in decluttering my apartment and getting it ready to put on the market, she suggested reaching out to Caleb and Cole, and that really set the process in motion. They made everything so painless and broke it all down into digestible and doable phases. That really empowered me to feel like I could get it done.
What was easy/fun about the decluttering process and what was difficult/emotional?
Actually, making the decision to move and sticking with it was the hard part. Once I made up my mind and Caleb and Cole were on board, the whole thing went so much faster and was so much easier than I ever could have expected. We had several steps that needed to happen - decluttering, packing up, and moving enough stuff out of my apartment to stage it for pictures and showings. Leaving enough so that I could live in my apartment and feel comfortable but continue showing it, packing up the rest of my stuff once the apartment had sold, setting up and decorating my new apartment and continuing to declutter, and just generally reframing how I looked at organization and what I felt I needed to hold on to.
How did it feel to see your home staged with the items you already owned?
This was really comforting for me. It sort of eased me into the selling and moving process and made all of the change much less jarring.
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Has decluttering inspired you in your new home?
As someone who was raised with clutter and then surrounded myself with it for most of my adult life, it was really inspiring for me and eye-opening to see how amazing it feels to have a space that is free from clutter and totally functional. The amount of time saved and stress avoided by having only what you need and knowing where to find it, is something you have to experience to believe. Even packing for vacation is so much easier now!
How does Cowboy like his new space?
Cowboy loves the new space! It has made it a lot easier to train him since there are dedicated places for his things and he knows what is his (other than shoes, which he still steals). It's also nice to have things clutter-free and in their place because there's less opportunity for him to knock things over or have access to things that I want to keep safe.
When did you know that you wanted us to work with your family?
I knew very soon after meeting Caleb and Cole that they would not only be able to help me, but also my family. Cole and I spent a lot of time working together, and he has an amazing ability to keep things moving forward and keep you on task, while also making the experience fun. One thing that I really appreciated and one of the reasons I thought he would also work well with my parents is that I NEVER felt pressured to throw out or donate anything that I didn't want to or was on the fence about. It always felt like a very safe and judgment-free space, and I think that is a big part of the reason that we were able to make so much progress. Caleb and Cole are very easy to be around and nothing about the process ever feels forced. I think that part of what makes them so special is that the process is very much tailored for the individual, so something that could easily feel overwhelming actually becomes very enjoyable. I recommend them to everyone I know and have many future projects with them in mind!
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Are you looking to rent or sell your apartment in NYC? Reach out today so that we can set up a consultation. Renting or selling a home is hard enough. Let us simplify the process… so you can move on.
Hello. We are Caleb and Cole. We each share a passion for organization and cleansing the home. We think of SimplifyNYC as not just a service, but a philosophy about life that we pass on to every client with whom we work. Our backgrounds are both in the performing arts. Through intense study of the arts, we gained greater perspective on how to tell a clear narrative, how best to determine focus and articulate goals. We think of your life and your home similarly. Too much clutter obscures clarity. Our goal is to better your quality of life by ridding it of negative, cluttered space and creating a clear, safe space outside the hustle and bustle of NYC. To reach us directly click here and follow us on Instagram.
