Memories of Home

Years ago when I bought my first house, the yard was a bit of a mess and I spent many weekends trimming, digging, cutting, removing and planting all sorts of things to try and get into a reasonable shape. There was one particular pine tree along a side fence that at first I didn't pay much attention to- I didn't really know what to do with it, so I just left it and never thought much about it. One day when showing off some of my hard work to a neighbor, she saw that tree and told me excitedly that it was a Christmas tree that children of the former owner had planted years ago- apparently a live tree the family had enjoyed one holiday and then transferred to the yard. After learning this, the tree became somewhat of a cherished landmark in the yard- I left it right where it was, and whenever I looked at it I wondered what that Christmas was like for them, and what treasures the children had opened underneath the tree on Christmas morning. I hope the tree is still there today, still bringing history forward into that yard.

That bit of history really got me thinking about that house in a new way. When I moved in it was a 1927 fixer upper that I delighted in updating, anxious to put a new face on the worn surfaces. But the Christmas tree in the yard made me realize that families over many years had lived important parts of their lives there, and had carried away special memories that were intertwined with important events they lived out right there in the same rooms I now lived in. It gave me a new respect for the history of the house, which I never forgot, and which I felt somehow connected to as I lived important parts of my life there.

Something similar happened the other day in our office at RD House. We'd recently put a beautiful old updated craftsman home on the market for rent, when we got the following email from someone who had driven past the house:

This house on 16th Ave NE was my Grandmother's house from about 1962 until the late 1980's. My father lived there also after he and my mother divorced in 1970. His room was the one in the basement. What a flashback. I was home in Seattle visiting when I drove by the house to reminisce and saw your sign. Whoever did the addition and remodel did an excellent job and I'm happy to see the original parts of the house looking almost exactly the same. Thanks for a walk down memory lane. I can still remember the cookie jar she kept on the counter.

What a treat to have received this from someone with a living memory of the home! It's a great reminder to us that we're really in the people business- the homes we advertise, show, and manage will hold memories for years to come from the people who live in them. They aren't just structures- they are where our tenants have Thanksgivings, graduations, anniversaries, new beginnings, holidays, and milestone celebrations with their families. It's nice to keep this perspective as we go through the day to day parts of our jobs as property managers.

Take a minute to share this with us- the original listing video we did for that property is here. See if you can smell fresh baked cookies as you watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9yap7Purxg

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About RD House Real Estate and Property Management: We are a leader in relocation, in-town condo and executive Seattle rental properties, working with Microsoft, Amazon, Fred Hutchison Center, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Alaska Airlines, Nordstrom and others. Many of our listings have video blogs/tours, and can be found on our website at www.rd-house.com.

If you are a Corporate relocation specialist and in need of help placing clients or employees, please contact our relocation team at (206) 728-6063.

RD House Real Estate and Property Management

Leaders in Property Management

159 Denny Way #110

Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 728-6063

www.rd-house.com