As the holidays begin, I find myself enjoying the crisp air and the scents of the season. I have recently discovered a wonderful new scent from Partylite called "Iced Snowberries". LOVE IT! Right this minute, I probably have at least a dozen of these candles burning. I can do this while my children are not home :) I find myself staring into the flame wondering about the damage that these little beauties can cause. Obviously, for me, the beauty and serenity of these candles far out weighs the liability of lighting them.
Which brought me to this post. I recently wrote a post about Stagers taking pride in their work. (You can read it here) Amongst the comments, Terry Haugen commented that she had "found that unlit cinnamon candles give a house a fresh scent without making that "perfume"statement." That's all it took!
Stephanie Heron-Weeber wrote a wonderful post about dewicking candles and the liability of even staging with candles back in May. Because of her post and the responses to the tangent off my post, I thought maybe the topic needs to be discussed again. Seems like we all have an opinion on the subject (just like everything else, huh?)
To be honest, I hadn't thought much about it...until another stager shared a story with me about a home owner lighting the candles for an open house. Unfortunately, when the open house was over, all of the candles were not extinguished. Yes, there was a fire - but thankfully, only minor damage.
Perhaps this is one area that we, as stagers, need to take a little more seriously. It's probably right up there with the liability of staging with items that could be considered weapons (i.e., "real" glasses, "real" silverware, etc).
When you stage a property using candles ... Do you leave the wick in, trim the wick so it's rendered "un-lightable" (I know it's not a real word, but it does sound kind of like one) or do you remove the wick in its entirety?
Calie ~ Good Question. If possible I remove the entire wick or just trim it down so it can't be lit. The scented candles will still give off enough scent even when unlit. It's better to be safe than sorry!
I have to say, I never light them and pretty much say, "light at your own risk", but obviously, that isn't good enough. I guess from now on I will be cutting the wicks off as well.
Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging
Maureen - You're right. Better safe, than sorry is probably the best way to go. What's your favorite scented candle?
Kim - Just one less thing to worry about, huh?
Calie ~ Hmmm...let's see. I love Vanilla, Cinnamon, Apple, and some of the more exotic ones like Lime-Cilantro at Pier 1. Gee -- all my favorites are related to food, no big surprise!
I now cut off all my wicks since I have de-staged properties and my candles were used. I never thought the homeowners would actually light them. I guess I was naive.
Also, I don't use scented candles in staging because I have a couple of friends that are very allergic to fragrances. You never know if the buyers coming into the home will be put off by the scent.
Calie,
I have never had anyone light any of my candles. But, I guess if that happened, I would become more careful where I placed them and if they were in a safe holder. I guess another alternative would be to leave a couple of "safe" candles and tell the realtor that these could be lit for open houses. I don't think lit candles should be strewn about the house, because of the safety issue of unsupervised children at open houses.
As far as scents are concerned, they have done studies to show that food smells are actually the least offensive to most people. Since cinnamon and some of the other spice ones tend to be very strong, I just stick with good old vanilla!
Elaine Manes-A Wonderful Space
To wick or not to wick -- that is the BURNING question! Snip, snip, snip and there ain't no wick. Clip, clip, clip and there is no use for the Bic. Tip, tip, tip one little fire will make you sick!
I remember the year Mom's Christmas party was interrupted by the blazing draperies in the dining room. No one was hurt and the damage was minimal. But the truth is I still have a huge problem with burning candles. I do like the scent and the visual pleasure when I'm there to enjoy and then snuff.
Hi Calie - Candles are beautiful - however, so dangerous. After a fire - 3 years ago - Our neighbors are finally able to enjoy the holidays in their home.
We do not use any kind of candle or candle sticks at all in our Stagings. The temptation to light them is too great. There are other decorative accents which are just as nice!
Maureen - Smells good to me!
Stephanie - I agree...sometimes the faux candles cost more than they're worth & the choices are minimal. Did you read Joanna's post recommending flame-less candles?
Terry - Sounds like an issue that could/should be added to a staging agreement. I absolutely love your line "to think our staging inventory is fair game" - WOW! There's an eye opener.
Tara - I know how you feel. When the same thing happened to my staged candles, it almost felt like an invasion. How rude!
Elaine - Safe candles, huh? Interesting thought. I wonder if it would work?
Yvonne - great little poem. I'm beginning to see that candles and fires happen more often than we realize. We definitely need to think about this with a more conscious effort.
Margaret - Interesting - no candles at all? Sure - there are other accessories and doo dads that can be used that are equally as nice - but no candles ... at all? Did something happen or was this decision merely a precautionary measure?
Calie,
I love your new photo / brand with those lovely eyes and the red signature! I need to call you today re staging. Does my choice of right justification mean I'm a right wing guy? Nah!
Mike in Tucson
Melissa - I'm smiling as I write this - I'm seeing you light the candles just before you leave (and not extinguish them) ... Wouldn't that be something? I like your reasoning about never-been-lit candles not being warm nor inviting. Never heard it put like that - but really does seem to make sense. Thanks!
Mike - That whole right justification thing is just weird! Something new? Oh, thanks for the compliment.
Gayle - We either cut the wicks off or pull them out. You're right - we just can't be too careful.
Thanks for posting this Calie...I missed the previous write ups and never thought about cutting back the wicks. I will do that from now on! I'm with Maureen---I always bring in Apple, Vanilla and Cinnamon---and sometimes Coffee, too. They all smell like 'HOME' to me.
Anyone use the electric wax-tart burners? I use mine at home all the time (you can leave them unattended unlike those that use tea lights) but was wondering if anyone used them in their stagings.
Calie,
I use the battery operated candle pillars. They are about $12-$15 each, but well worth the investment. I'd hate to be liable for any fires and I like the glow of the candles too much.
I love to use candles in my staging. They provide a nice aroma that most homes need to create warmth.
I always remove the wick and if it cannot be removed I cut it so it cannot be lit. The stories that have been told of realtors and homeowners lighting the candles at open houes is true. It has happend to a couple close stager friends. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks for bringing it up.
Trish Lane,
Simple Inspiration Home Staging
Anthea - It's been a while since I've seen you around these parts. Hope business is delightfully booming! I'm hearing more and more about the battery operated candles - seems like it may be a direction more of us need to consider. Thanks - Calie
Trisha - I too absolutely love candles - all shapes, sizes, scents (most of them) and colors. Honestly, I don't think I've ever staged a house with them. We do have a dewick policy and when we put them in lived-in homes, we do require the home seller to initial our agreement (that says if they light them, they're responsible). Thanks for sharing - Calie
I'm one of those that are allergic to the smells, at the mall I run by the candle shop. If I walk into a room with a smell I can have a migraine headache within seconds, or have an asthma attack. However vanilla and coffee, and other food smells are OK.
i'd hate to have a buyer leave a house because of the smell of a candle, so we don't use them, unless they are scentless.
Becky
Hi Callie;
I would like to offer two non-candle remedies. The infusion lamps are WONDERFUL. You light it and blow it out...the stones stay hot and that is what releases the fragrance until the lid is put back on. They can last for hours on end...worst case scenario, someone leaves it to burn too long causing the stone to dry out. I always buy extra stones. The other is those scented reeds in the bottles. Both of these offer fragrances like vanilla, cinnamon and my own personal favorite is one that smells like sugar cookies baking. I have never heard anyone walk past a bakery saying they hated that smell. I am fortunate because I can buy them at the Mart at wholesale. They could get fairly expensive. To me they are well worth any expense however. I use them in my own home all the time. I have a few different infusion lamps with different scents. I light the one that I am most in the mood for. When a cable man goes to leave your house and he turns to ask what in the world it is that you are using in your home to make it smell that great...well that says something. I have written the name of the product for more men who can't wait to go home and tell their wives about them. As to the comment about un lit wicks...I know I was always taught that a candle with a blackened wick was a sign of welcome. May be a southern thing, but I always blacken the wicks on candles.
Callie -
I trim my wicks. I heard where a stager was sued because a realtor lit a candle and left it burning and the house burned down. I'm considering putting it in my contract that no candles are to be lit. Better safe than sorry. I love to use candles and will continue to do so. I think unlit they still give off a little fragrance and still give that ambiance.
I agree that you cannot be too careful, trimming back the wicks is a good idea or de-wicking them. I have had the homeowners use the candles and then when I went back to "plump up" the staging I had to replace the candles. Leaving a card stating "Burn at your own risk" or simply having the wording in the contract is an excellent idea. I will be adding this to my contact. Great advise and thanks for bringing this to "Light"...
Calie,
I used candles in my latest listing (see the Real Estate Show in my AR post a few days back) and pulled the wick out of each candle with a pair of pliers! See you in May!
Mike in Tucson
I am just learning about this no wick thing!! I have honestly never thought that I would be liable if someone lit the candles that I had placed and then started a fire. What if the homeowner has their own candles and you use them as part of the staging? Would you still be liable? Are the rules different here in Canada? Many questions...anyone have some more answers?
Great post!
Callie-
This intrigued me because I too have had agents light my candles for open houses! When I discovered this - OMG - how rude! I was pretty surprised as EVERY candle throughout the house had been lit. When I went to destage, the candles around the bathtub had been completely burned down, dripping over the edges of the tall candlestick! This agent has been a very good client however, and at this point I have decided not to make it an issue. The candle wax came off easily and it wasn't a huge problem (or investment on my part). I have since put a line in my contract about such things and hope that clients read it. The liability issue is great, and one that needs to be addressed with many things!
Thanks for the post.
Mary
Wow ! The wick question has raised a very good point. Like Mary and others before her, I would not be happy if someone lit my candles for reasons of potential damage to the property, and for reasons of potential damage to my own staging props, not to mention loss of future use of the candle itself. I do have language in my contracts covering damages and requiring all props be returned in the condition they were delivered in. Am now ready to revise that so it gets initialed by the client, like the car rental places that have you initial parts of contracts. Bottom-line: de-wicking I will go! Seems like the best policy.