Scottsdale Sellers: Do as I say, not as I do!

Paul, life is perfect just the way it is, isn't it? Why in the world would people try to have a perfectly sterile home with little ones? You've chosen the best way...enjoy them! Mine are all grown and I sure wish there were little ones around for the holidays.

BTW...where did you get that HUGE sailfish??? That thing is whoppin' big! I am addicted to saltwater fishing! (Yeah, we do a lot of that here in Ft. Worth! LOL)

Paul - Thanks for your honesty and openess. If you treat your clients the way you communicate on active rain you must be very successful.

My years of living with a demolition crew are behind me, but your photos brought back vivid memories. Enjoy your little ones.

My life is a mess, and that's a bad thing. Can we trade places? Yucky garage and all??

Paul,

You know us too well....I was laughing at the garage, what's up with the Marlin?

Life is the way it should be, don't change a thing.  Have a great Holiday!!!

Linda, you just get neater and neater. I caught that sailfish in Cabo San Lucas after my senior year in high school.  My pop took me on that trip as a graduation present.  I caught the sailfish, and he landed a HUGE marlin that won him a free return trip with our guide group.  I'll try to dig up some old pictures from the trip.  When my home office became my son's bedroom, the fish got relegated to the garage.  My wife was pretty adamant that the cubby hole that I now employ as a home office WOULD NOT include my trophy.  I've learned to pick my battles.  Have a terrific holiday, Linda.

Thank you very much for saying so, John.  It's the only way to be as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks, Rosario.  I hope they are fond memories.

Sorry Jennifer, but I'm not swapping with anybody.  Well, ask me again in the summer when we hit 115 degrees.

Hi Harold, that's a sailfish, my friend.  The history on it is above in my reply to Linda.  Great memories attached to it, so it goes where I go.  Thanks for reading, and you have yourself a great holiday as well!

Paul, if you do find the pictures be sure to share...my husband has always wanted to do the 5-6 day trip out of San Diego. If he behaves I may get that for him for our anniversary next year.

I guess you haven't used that ladder in a while!  I was really hoping that was tp in the garage, but I see it's paper towels.  Darn!!  Have a great Thanksgiving!

Hey, Paul...can you return that ladder you borrowed???  I need it to hang my Christmas lights ;-p

Paul - I always say that i wont be able to sell my house until the kids are out of it. I would never be able to have a single showing, it's to scary what teens make out of their rooms.

Your garage ain't got NOTHING on my garage, or my living room, or my kitchen.....Unfortunately, I can't blame my kids because it's ALL MINE!

I don't have a fish, though.

Hey...you can look forward to when you get my age...and after enjoying your children grow up and then leave the nest...you get a one bedroom townhouse like we do....that's neat. Until then...it's all your life. 

Lucky guy, Linda.  Like everywhere else on the planet, I hear Cabo has changed drastically since I was there in '93.  Major development.  I'm sure there are newer spots to hit, but don't miss Squid Row and The Giggling Marlin if you go.

It was there, Marc.  I just moved it out of the view of the camera ;)  You go have yourself a great holiday as well.

Toddlers and teens ... pretty much the same thing isn't it, Faina?  Neither talk to you much, and both leave unholy messes in their wakes.  Have a happy Thanksgiving, Faina.

The funny thing, Elaine.  These pictures were taken this morning.  My wife cleaned last night.  If only I had snapped a few yesterday, you might not be so charitable!  Have a great holiday.

Sorry, Lisa, my kid broke your ladder.  I can loan you a slightly urinated-upon step stool if you like. 

What?  It was dark!

Have a happy Thanksgiving, Lisa.

Hi, Sally.  One can only dream.  Until that time, my car, office and files are the only things neat and tidy in my life.  Aloha and happy holidays!

Paul, we can all clean up the house after they have all grown up and have left the nest, but for now I love their mess.

This is too funny. Love the way your kids "decorate" for you. There's some budding talent there, I can tell.

Oh so true with little ones Paul.  Just so you know, when they become teenagers it doesn't get much better.  You just hug them more.  

Just a side note:  We are in the process of selling our house and I'll tell you, we have cleaned every nook and cranny, dejunked like no other and organized as if the Queen were coming to visit.  With a 4 year old and two 14 year olds, I wonder how long that will last. Hmmm...more hugs in order.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Paul...  Looks like you've got yourself a little Jack of all trades...  Designer, Builder...uh, Demo Man, Chef, MLB Player...decisions...decisions...  Quite the little multi-tasker...  Bet he gets that from Dad.  lol

Does your wife know you put these pictures up?  DEFCON 3 might seem like an episode of Big Comfy Couch if she catches wind of these...  ;o)

Paul - All I can say is - at least you're a Realtor and not a stager.  One of the things that will absolutely make me cringe is when people say "Oh, I bet your house is just beautiful" or worse "Can I come by and see your house?" ... Oh my stars!  I tell people the way I live in my house is different from the way I would sell my house - right now, we are happily living in a home with several children, several more animals and a few dozen friends who stop by as wanted.  We're just happy living ... if you want to see a clean house, call for an appointment.  Want to visit and share?  Come on by (and bring Starbucks :O) )  Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family!

Paul:

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I love it!  I wouldn't dare show photos of my garage on here though! 
You are a very brave man! 

Here is to you saving the day for all your clients and being promoted
up from just a "Sidekick"

Paul...Love the title.  I am so glad we can subscribe to posts we sure don't want to miss.  

We're grandparents now...have been for a fourteen years.  Our quiet, tidy library becomes LEGO-LAND when any or all of the 10 grandchildren are here.  Of course, LEGO-LAND encourages other toys to visit so there's plenty to do in there (and every other room in the house).  Fortunately, the PARENTS (thank goodness) require clean-up before anyone can hug & kiss Grandma and Grandpa good-bye. 

Somehow the last part of that sentence sounds like the kids are anxious to hug & kiss us...or anxious to leave!  Neither is quite what I meant to convey but so be it.

Cheers and more thanks, Kathleen

Me too, Mana.  Thanks for commenting, and happy holidays!

If you like this decorating, Kelly, you should see the Van Gogh recreations he can effortlessly create on the walls with chocolate pudding.  Simply amazing.  Thanks and have a happy Thanksgiving, Kelly.

Oh, Julie.  You poor thing.  I cannot fathom having my house on the market with these two little ninjas and my golden retrievers running wild.  Best of luck with that.  Best wishes for the upcoming holidays, and I hope you sell fast!

Don't you dare tell my wife, Lisa!

Happy Thanksgiving!

That is exactly my philosophy, Calie.  My last house was immaculate when I had it on the market, but it is a place to live in at all other times.  It is not a museum.  Considering that my idea of staging my house is to move the pile of laundry out of the family room and into the hall bath, you might be right that I make a better Realtor than stager!  Happy Thanksgiving to that big houseful of family, Calie.

Here I come to save the day!  Thanks for the promotion, Jessica! 

I figured full disclosure was in order for my sellers.  I go over their homes with a fine toothed comb when it's time to hit the market, and I wanted them to know that I identify with the struggle to keep a house show-ready.  I don't critique out of judgement (these photos should go far to dispelling that notion!), but out of tough love to get their properties sold.

You may call me brave to show my soft underbelly, but the truth of the matter is far less glamorous.  I just don't feel the need to pretend that I am something that I am not.  I'm no aristocrat, just a hardworking family man.

Thanks for the laugh, and I hope you and the family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

10 grandkids, Kathleen?  How magnificent!  The picture of your library being reclassified as Lego-Land when they visit strikes a chord with me.  I live about 5 minutes from my parents, who in turn still live in my childhood home.  While my sister's old room remains a shrine to her childhood, the last vestiges of me have long since been scrubbed from existence in my old room.  It has been an exercise room, reading room, and now, grandchildren central.  Toys as far as the eye can see.  It's actually pretty nice, because it limits the need to have every toy under the sun at my house.  Thanks for reading, Kathleen, and I hope that big family of yours has a fantastic Thanksgiving.

HA!  Don't let him fool you folks...he only leaves the noisy toys at Grandma and Grandpa's house...I'm on to you, Slaybaugh (but only cuz I did the same thing..LOL)

Paul, I remember those days when my boys were small and they had toys everywhere.  Wait a minute, now they're are big and there are still toys everywhere!  LOL! 

Paul - The fact that the little ones are loved and have a warm and loving home within your walls is so much more important than spilled milk any day! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. I was up in your neck of the woods yesterday, actually North Scottsdale at Frank Lloyd Wright.

PAUL:  If we're doling out hugs for messes, I'll never be able to let them go.  They just give and give and give until it hurts.  I'm not talking about figurative hurt, I mean literal.  The pain of stepping on some of these toys is brutal.  I see that you got your favorite word into this post.  Nice job.

LOL Lisa.  Everyone keeps giving us those darn noisemakers for the kids, and we keep shuttling those up to Grandma ans Grandpa's house.  You have seen through my ruse!

Truth be told, Roberta, my toys are still all over the place, too!  Happy Thanksgiving.

What were you doing up there, Candace?  Were you working, or shopping at The Promenade by chance?  You'll have to let me know the next time you are near my hood so we can grab a cup of coffee and talk shop.  Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

I was wondering if you or Jason would catch that, Adam.  It gave me a laugh while writing it.  You're right about those toys.  I usually step on something either pointy or on wheels when I get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water.  Neither one is a pleasant experience.  Messes tend to be the gift that keeps on giving with kids, so I agree that those hugs won't be in short supply for the foreseeable future.  Happy Thanksgiving to the Waldman family from mine, jefe.

Hi Paul -- Actually I took my clients up there for lunch and then wrote on three houses in McCormick Ranch.....heard of it?   (bbbbbbllllaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhaaaa)........ 

No kidding?  It's too bad both of our listings in McCormick Ranch are pending right now, or we might have been able to do that cross sale!  Although, if you wrote on multiple properties, I'm guessing my sellers might not have liked the number on the contract :)

Not to imply that you need any help, but feel free to give me a call if you want to pick my brain at all on those properties.  Good luck!

Hi Paul, What a clever post and one that seems to strike the fancy of all your readers, me too! Delightful! Here is wishing you and your whole family a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for!

Sincerely,
William

Paul - I'll bet there's a lot of laughter in the Slaybaugh houisehold. Great post. Thanks for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you very much, William.  I trust you and your family will share a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.

There is indeed a lot of laughter in my house.  Of course there are also the sounds of things constantly falling, crashing, breaking, groaning or exploding as well!  My house isn't perfect, but there is a lot of love within these walls.  Happy Thanksgiving, Tom.

Once when my oldest son was little he took the sugar, flour, pancake mix, cornbread mix and drug them all into the formal living room floor and made a sand pile. Opps, funny now, not so funny then. But, that is life and now it is a pleasant memory of him who is not 26.

Paul...  oh the joys of kids. I don't have any as of yet, but I do have 2 nieces and 2 nephews. As I can see from so many, kids can change your lives, in so many ways...  such a joy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family... and to your busy bee.

I give up by Sunday afternoon.  Do what you want you messy kids!  I rarely schedule showing on Mondays before 1pm anymore.  I get the kids to school at 8:30 and start working on the mess from my Hurricanes. 

I remember how mad my parents would get at us kids for leaving the little green army men out on the floor.  Never really made sense why It would make a grown up so angry.  Its taken 5 years and 2 kids to relize where that anger comes from.  A dark hallway in the middle of the night, barefeet and a lone soldier in the path, OUCH!!!!!  

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! 

Paul - I could do my own post on this topic.  By the way, your garage looks better than mine does.  We have gone through several toilet paper dispensers in each bathroom.  I can totally relate to the train table incident.  Happy Thanksgiving!

PAUL:  My busy little bee (ranking in at 40 years old) decided to clean my brand new wood floors before our guests came today with something that resembled liquid chalk.  Remember what would happen when you got a chalk board wet and then smeared the chalk around?....well now you get the picture.  I ran around the house for about an hour with big fuzzy socks on trying to get it off.  NICE! :)

We've had a few very similar experiences, Missy.  The floor grit just adds a little flavor.  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Jeff.  There is simply no preparation for kids.  You expect the major life changes, but it's all the little things that really blow your mind.  I can honestly say that every facet of my life is different with the boys around the house.  Once you stop fighting and admit that your life is no longer your own, it gets a little easier.  Hope you stuffed yourself full of poultry, my man.

I know that pain well Chad.  Anymore, I practically wince with every step in anticipation of being gouged or tripped.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your little commandos.

Paul...  well, maybe I will know the feeling someday. Besides, I do know the train set up. Helped my nephew with the same one. And stuffed?  Very much so and hopefully the same for you.

That was merely one side of the garage, Jason.  After a big garage sale to thin the herd, as well.  You should have seen the monstrosity that it was.  Happy Thanksgiving, buddy.  Great to share those funny stories with you yesterday.  Tell Humberto to stay away from my turkey!

Now that's a picture!  Perfectly coiffed Shanon Lefevre frantically scampering around in big, fuzzy socks.  We've had a few incidents with our wood floors as well, so you have more complete empathy.  Hope it turned out okay, and you had a wonderful holiday.  Thanks for popping in, Shannon!

Stuffed to the gills, Jeff.  Even caught a post-turkey catnap in front of the TV.  The kids were tying my shoelaces together and setting the house on fire for all I knew.  Good thing my wife worries more about that stuff!

Sorry to give you images of Humberto on the eve of a special holiday with your family.  Unfortunately, it is seared into my memory banks.  Talk to you soon -

Mine too, and I have never even met the guy.

Paul- After making my first five kids' lives miserable by having the 'perfect' house all the time, I learned a hard lesson. They grow up too fast. Now with a our next family member, our now 5 year old, well, now I love messes. I see all of his creations and inventions. Now I ask him to tell me all about what his new 'mess' is all about. I just enjoy and give lots of hugs and kisses. This too shall pass, so enjoy! Katerina

Thank you, Katerina.  I know this ride will be over before I know it, so I really do try to enjoy all of these things while I can.  A temporary inconvenience is nothing compared to a lasting memory.  When I'm 100 years old and on my deathbed, I don't think I will really care whether I kept my hardwood floors perfectly polished or my family room clean of toys and debris.  I only sweat the small stuff when it comes to my business.  Thanks for your comments, Katerina.