In 2008, my Business Partner and I did a mailing to Realtors. Sharlene Hensrud was one of the Realtors that contacted us about our services. At the time, we had just started staging homes. We met Sharlene and were instantly impressed. As we got in the car, I remember saying "boy, she has it together". We aligned with Sharlene and started a great and unique business partnership. She, being a top notch Realtor, and us, being Stagers that could also help people fix up their homes to get them ready to sell.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years, and things have changed. I bought out my Partner and own the Company myself. I transformed my business in to a multi-faceted one, not only doing staging and light remodeling, but also Senior Move Management. We help Seniors downsize, declutter and pack for moving. Then, we added a service that works on foreclosed homes for banks.
In April, my Mother in Law was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 5 weeks later. Then, in the midst of dealing with that tragedy, my Dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer and we're making decisions about treatments for him and how to help he and my Mother. Life is short and it's never hit me harder. I found myself working non-stop.....and right along with me is my Husband wondering when we were going to have a day off.
I made a decision to simplify life. I decided to give up my Staging/Realtor business. I love to stage and I know I'm good at it or the houses wouldn't sell so fast in this market. But it takes a lot of work and there's a lot of cost involved with warehouses, trucks, inventory. So I've spent the last month ending that portion of Tender Heart Transitions. We're still going to work on foreclosed homes and work with Seniors to help them downsize and declutter, but the warehouse is empty and the furniture/accessories have been sold. It's bittersweet.........a great relief because we'll have more time, but a great sadness to end what I've worked so hard at.
And most of all, I'm sad to end the business part of dealing with someone like Sharlene. I've appreciated her so much over these past 3 years and how well we worked together. I know that we will still remain friends and have lunch at the Good Day Cafe on occasion. But, the day to day dealings will be gone. And the excitement of working with her Customers, getting their homes ready to sell, having her email or call with a "we got an offer!!" won't be there.
