When I first heard the term, Wabi Sabi, the first thing that sprang to mind was hot mustard. The term is not common in our culture, nor is the mindset. Quite simply, Wabi Sabi is the art of imperfection. It is embracing the imperfections in our life, and relaxing with the knowledge that nothing can or should be perfect.
I often incorporate Wabi Sabi into my staging consultations. I want buyers to have that immediately positive reaction when they tour your listing. Of course the house should be clean, uncluttered, and beautifully presented. But, that extra something, that thing that speaks to buyers and says “this is home”, is more important than any detail. When we create a too-perfect environment in a home for sale, we run the risk of leaving buyers feeling cold, as if they couldn’t see themselves living there because it doesn’t feel real. Yes, this is a completely delicate balance between presenting the listing well so that the buyer feels that the house offers everything they lack now, and being so perfect that they can’t imagine paying bills at the kitchen table or washing the dog in the bathtub.
I had a poignant lesson in the art of Wabi Sabi when I sold my own home. Because I’m in the business of making homes beautiful, especially when they’re listed for sale, my own home was nearly perfect for every showing. I prided myself on thinking of everything, and even had a few little touches to embrace the theory of Wabi Sabi so that the house didn’t feel too staged. One morning, before I had a chance to dive into my daily cleaning routine in case the house was shown that day, my phone rang. It was a real estate agent who wanted to let me know that “they were just around the corner and should be there in a few minutes.” When she heard the confusion in my voice, we both realized that she had left a voice mail message on the wrong phone earlier in the morning, so I had no idea that a showing was about to happen.
I let her know that the house wasn’t “perfect”, and there were dishes in the sink, I hadn’t vacuumed, no cookies were baked, and it just wasn’t in the condition it usually was for showings. The agent assured me that this was fine. I did stress about the showing as I drove around waiting to return to my house. Later that day I received a call that we had a full-price offer from the buyers. They loved the home, and the fact that there were dishes in the sink and it wasn’t perfect, really helped them feel that they’d be right at home there with their big family. “It felt like home” was the comment relayed to me about the condition of the house when they toured it. That was exactly what they needed to see, and had I insisted on perfection by delaying the showing to make things just right, the offer would not have arrived. Good lesson!
We all love the look of beautiful furniture showrooms or model homes, but couldn’t imagine living in them. Mannequins and airbrushed magazine covers offer a perfection that would be frightening on a real person. Perfection is unrealistic, and the pursuit of it can rob you of your peace of mind.
In real estate, the pursuit of perfection is particularly complicated. So much of the industry is dependent on others, as you navigate deals that include clients, other real estate agents, tradespeople, lenders, inspectors, and everyone else! Try brainstorming ways in which you can incorporate Wabi Sabi into your day, for more a peaceful mindset. When you can let go of expectations and focus on what you can control, transactions get easier, and interactions go more smoothly because you’re focused on the process not the outcome.
Guest Blogger: Diana Hathaway-Timmons
email: Diana@DHTimmons.com
website: KeepYourZen.com
253.514.8892
