Live like Sanjaya (Before 'American Idol' Days)

You voted for him on "American Idol," now you can eat in Sanjaya Malakar's kitchen and sleep in his bedroom.

The curiously coiffed crooner -- actually, his soon-to-be stepfather -- is selling the Federal Way home where the 17-year-old lived for two years before his life got swept up in Idoldom.

"We're going to be moving to Hollywood in October," Sanjaya's mother, Jillian Blith, explained by phone from New York -- the latest stop in the American Idols Live Tour '07.

"We just feel that we need to be down there for the (music) industry," Blith said.

It's not just about Sanjaya. Shyamali Malakar, Sanjaya's sister and fellow "Idol" contestant, also hopes to continue her music career, and Blith's fiance, Chad Quist, is a professional musician who has played with, among others, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Janis Joplin's former band.

But this story is about a house -- specifically, a five-bedroom, one-bathroom Federal Way split-level built in 1963. OK, it's not where Sanjaya grew up, but he did live there during high school, and it does feature a recording studio Quist built in the basement.

The music theme extends beyond the studio to the music note above the doorbell, the baby grand piano and the double bass in the basement family room. There's also a poster on the dryer from a Big Brother and the Holding Co. gig at Coeur d'Alene Casino.

Realtor Dennis Fletcher, who formerly worked with Quist writing radio and TV jingles, expects to put the house on the market Sept. 4.

And he is playing the Sanjaya card with gusto.

Fletcher plans an autographed photo of Sanjaya for the back of the listing flier, Sanjaya-themed house ads in local newspapers and magazines, and a Sanjaya song clip to accompany a slide show of house photos on a listing Web site. Stickers depicting the house will adorn the back of his business card, and he will distribute T-shirts featuring a photo of Sanjaya and his sister to various Federal Way businesses. Sanjaya portraits will be sprinkled throughout the house.

"I've probably spent, so far, about $2,500, $2,600," Fletcher said. "It's marketing for me, too."

The Sanjaya factor helps the house stand out from dozens of others for sale nearby, he said. "I'm just trying to get attention to the house."

But Fletcher insisted there was no Sanjaya premium added to the $360,000 asking price.

It's a good price for a big house with a big yard and new windows, wood floors, tile, fixtures and plumbing, he said.

"The house is solid."

American Idol Live News:
American Idol: Champion Jordin Sparks Pledges Vow of Chastity
Live like Sanjaya (Before 'American Idol' Days)
Former American Idol Contestant Jessica Sierra Being Treated for Drug Addiction
Thousands Flock to Philly for 'American Idol' Tryout
American Idol Runner-Up Blake Lewis Signs Record Deal with Arista
Jordin Sparks' New Single to Be Released
"American Idol" Alums to Sing On Soap
'American Idol' Winner Becomes the Toast of Broadway
American Idol's Ryan Seacrest to Host Emmy Awards
'American Idol' Winner Jordin Sparks Signs with Jive
Cowell Will Be Quitting American Idol
The Super Bowl ... With a Little 'American Idol'?
Life After American Idol
American Idol Musical Shuts After One Show
"American Idol" Fame Doesn't Guarantee Albums Will Fly Off Shelves
Thousands Flock to Omaha for 'American Idol' Auditions
'American Idol' Contestant Auditions While She's in Labor
Nearly 13,000 Spend Monday Auditioning for 'American Idol'
`American Idol' Wannabes Turn Out in Texas
'American Idol' Contestant Sabrina Sloan Signs Record Deal
'American Idol'-Based Movie in the Works: "The Musical Version of 'Rocky'"
Idyllic `American Idol' Camp
Ex American Idol Contestant Popped For Drugs
'American Idol' Finalist Gives Advice to Contestant Hopefuls
Thousands Line Up in San Diego for 'American Idol' Auditions
Carrie Underwood's Fall Follow-Up
'American Idol' Rumor Mill: Paula to be Replaced by Sharon Osbourne?
Fantasia Extends Stay in `Color Purple'
American Idol Star Katharine McPhee to Play Pregnant Hippy
Video Send-Up of Hillary Clinton by 'American Idol' Contestant Walks a Sexual Line
Lyric Jeans to Launch American Idol Apparel
American Idol: Clay Aiken is Shoved on an Airplane; FBI Involved
American Idol Katharine McPhee Gives Stuff Magazine a Revealing Interview
'American Idol' Jordin Sparks Excited About 4th, Concert Tour
American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks in the Studio
No Need to Worship This 'American Idol' Judge: Paula Abdul's Blah 'Hey Paula'
Former American Idol Participant to Perform at Fair
American Idol Live Tour is Coming
American Idol Season 7 Auditions
American Idol Romance: Jordin Sparks & Blake Lewis?
American Idol Kelly Clarkson in Meltdown Mode Says Magazine
American Idol Contestant Sanjaya Malakar Plans to Make it Big in Show Biz
American Idol: The Musical?
American Idol's Jordin Sparks on Super Bowl Radar
American Idol Kelly Clarkson Fires Manager, Tour on Hold
American Idol Ratings Drop Simon Cowell's Fault Says Ryan Seacrest
New 'American Idol' Champ Jordin Sparks Comfortable in Her Own Skin
'American Idol' Finishes Strong
American Idol Winner Is Jordin Sparks
'American Idol' Comes Down to Jordin Sparks & Blake Lewis
American Idol Results Shocker - Melinda Doolittle Eliminated
American Idol: Jordin, Blake or Melinda, Who's Next?
'American Idol' Spin-Off for Bands
American Idol Results - Lakisha Jones Eliminated
American Idol Results - Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson Eliminated
American Idol - It's Double Elimination Time
'American Idol' Raises More than $60 Million in "Idol Gives Back" Fundraiser
'American Idol': Elvis Still is King
American Idol Results Shocker - No One Eliminated
American Idol Results - Sanjaya Malakar Eliminated
Sanjaya Could Actually Win 'American Idol'
American Idol - Haley Scarnato's Short Shorts Come Up Short
American Idol Results - Haley Scarnato Eliminated
American Idol Results - Gina Glocksen Eliminated
'American Idol' Sets Tuesday Standard
Press Conference with American Idol Executive Producer Ken Warwick
American Idol Results Shocker - Chris Sligh Eliminated
American Idol's Sixth Season Top 10 Take the Stage and Perform Live
Sanjaya Rocks "American Idol"; Blake Lewis Does His Thing; Howard Stern's Presence Felt
American Idol Outing: Simon Cowell Teases Ryan Seacrest to Come Out
American Idol Top 12 Starts Tonight
American Idol Results Shocker - Antonella Barba Out, Sanjaya Malakar In
Top 10 American Idol Women, Not As Strong As Last Week
American Idol Guys Step It Up
First Four 'American Idol' Singers Axed
For Rivals, American Idol is the Monster That Ate T.V.
American Idol Announces Performing Arts Camp for Teens
American Idol Hopeful Antonella Barba Topless Photos Least of Problems
American Idol: Ladies Night Strong with Stephanie Edwards and Sabrina Sloan
Jennifer Lopez to Perform On 'American Idol'
Seacrest and Cowell Fighting Again on American Idol
American Idol to Offer Disappointing Guest Stars and Keep Paula Abdul
American Idol Top 12 Boys Performances Didn't Impress the Judges
Not Much Happens In American Idol Hollywood Week
American Idol Heats Up with Hollywood Auditions
Michael Jackson to Appear on American Idol?
American Idol Ice Cream
Idol-Aspiring Grammys Perk Up
American Idol Hopefuls Speak Out About What You Don't See On the Show
American Idol's Carrie Underwood Wins Three Grammy Awards
'American Idol 6' Producer Sheds Some Light on Akron Watson's Ouster
American Idol: One Hundred Seventy-One Dreams Left to Crush, One Hundred Seventy-One Dreams.
Two More American Idol Hopefuls Booted?
American Idol: Season 6, Episode 6 Recap
American Idol Watchers Number 32 Million
'American Idol' is a legitimate star maker.
'American Idol' flexes music cred
'American Idol' season revs up
American Idol Icon Paula Abdul Acts Weird In TV Interview
American Idol's popularity seems limitless
American Idols opens for Song Writers

American Idol Live Tour News:
Idol Train Stops in Paris

AMERICAN IDOL NEWS