Leo Brehl, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1948 (This photo was taken for the local paper on the unique design on the home he built)

So many of my clients and friends ask me why I got into selling Real Estate. Some times I wonder, but I was reminded of it when I was looking through some old family photos the other day.

My Grandfather was a builder among many of his talents. He had built many houses in his day. But in spring I often remember him and the special gift he gave to me and my sister … the love of a HOME!

 My sister, his first grand child, was blessed with her very own custom play house - just a one room 6 x 6 charming starter home.  Complete with working windows, doors, built-ins, top of the line insulation in the day I am sure  and not to mention the multi color shingles for siding and roofing. It had great curb appeal to a child. My Mother made matching curtains to the ones in our own home with extra fabric she didn’t want to waste. Today a home inspector might not pass the size of the windows or the fact that the door knob would fall off sometimes from inside and you couldn’t get out. Someone would eventually come looking for you. Sometimes I wonder if they just left the door knob like that for a reason. Having kids of my own, I only ponder! No central air but the windows had screens on them so bugs (bees) wouldn’t get in and sting us. Grandpa was always thinking I tell you. It had its own completely fenced in yard too. My sister called it a prison! Well, it was 8ft tall chicken wire and they locked us in there (yes they did!). Now THERE is a phone call to Social Services today huh? The yard complete with a John Deere tractor tire for the sand box and a swing. We lived on 40 acres at that time and kids wondered and my parents were afraid that we might fall into one of the two ponds on the property. They knew we were safe and we were. We weren’t allowed to have matches in there AT ALL and everything was plastic, the good plastic that didn’t break and had that ‘good plastic smell.

The listing would read: Great little bungalow, starter home or countryside rancher. My sister and I just called it FUN!

I surprised everyone when I came along 8 years later and the need/want for a second (home) play house was not going to happen. Times were tough and you lived below your means. Back in the late 1950’s you recycled and I am sure Grandpa didn’t buy anything but the nails and glue. One of the things he like to do was to tear down old buildings the city didn’t want any more and sell what he could and use the rest. Paid cash for everything or you didn’t buy it (Dave Ramsey was right!). When my sister was older she had abandoned her need for ‘play’ and  ‘boys’ took over her definition of  FUN! The 'For Sale By Owner" sign didn't have to go in the front yard. No agent got a check on this one!  I took up squatter’s rights or the “hand-me-downs” if you would rather. No deed or monies exchanged hands but the ownership was taken seriously. As I grew, the chicken wire came down. Both  my sister and I figured out how to climb it, so it was pointless to lock us up. Didn’t really need it anyway, we loved our play house and would play in it for hours!

During the winter, I didn’t use it much. Yes it was insulated, but no heat … that too wouldn’t pass by today’s standards . No mud room so you always had snow all over in it.  I would look in the windows and just day dream about the warmer days ahead when I could make mud pies and rearrange my custom furniture that Grandpa made to match.

When the first spring day hit, I was up at the crack of dawn. Play clothes on, bucket and broom ready to “Spring Clean My House” for the whole day! Everything came out! EVERYTHING! Even the vinyl flooring because it was one big piece ( and yes there were hard wood floors in it!). There was always sand under it from a mud pie that might have spilled from the oven which was a cardboard box with pill bottles for knobs (who needs a Wii?). Mom even made me lunch and brought it to me. PB & J with homemade jam of course. She made sure I had clean soapy warm water for my dishes and dry dish towels. Sometimes she would do laundry the same day and we would hang out clothes together. It was great being a home owner and the neighbors were so nice!

When my Grandfather would come over he would walk around and admire his build job or do any minor repairs to the siding or roof when it needed it. I would follow as he talked about some paint on the front door and what color I wanted. I think he thought ahead of how a little girl could change her mind and the multi-colored house was built with a women in mind.

I would invite my Mom and Dad over for tea and mud pie with pine needle sprinkles which they politely pretended to drink and eat. I would read books, feed or wash my baby dolls and think about when I would grow up and have my own home what it would be like.  Spring meant a time to dream, a time to play and be a kid.

Today, I don’t play house. It is the real deal. Too many responsibilities in life or maybe I just forgot how.  Spring reminds me of that child that loved her first home and dreamed of new possibilities. I remember the importance of family and time together. Even though spring has a feeling of freshness and newness I hope it brings hope to the many home owners who have struggled with job loss and foreclosure or are worrying about losing their home yet today. This spring has taken me way back to simpler day and happier times. My thoughts for the readers here are to connect to the kid in you that couldn’t be stopped and enjoy the spring and allow your self to day dreamed. May you have fresher, happier days ahead. God Bless!

Thank you Grandpa, we miss you and still love you!

  “Honey! Get the ladder out, we need to wash the windows and………”

All rights reserved, Charlene Hammontree @ Property Works, Inc. 2009