(I wrote this in December 2009. I love this story. It's MY story. As Christmas Eve 2010 approaches and we prepare for our party with family and friends, I always think of when we found our house and the warm, homey feel it still has over 25 years later.)
Home for the Holidays - More Than a Feeling
My buyers always ask for my opinion and I am not shy about giving one.
One question that comes up often is "Is this the right house for me/us?
This is what I tell them.
How does it FEEL to you? Can you see yourself living here? How would your furnishings look in this space? Are you comfortable with what you hear? (Traffic? Quiet? Barking dogs?) 
Is the space adequate for your needs? Etc....
THEN I tell them MY story - whether they want to hear it or not. Actually, they always do. Just kidding.
Twenty five years ago my husband and I bought an acre of land with the intent of building a house. We were just a few days short of signing the contract. We decided to take a ride up to the lot and just look around one Sunday afternoon in December.
After leaving, we saw an open house sign on a lovely dead end street. I told my husband - it's almost 5:00 - the agent is ready to leave. He said, let's go take a quick look. We pulled into the driveway and said, ‘Wow, this is a really nice house, and it's a little different'. (I like different).
So we went inside and my husband knew the agent and they got into a conversation. (I was not in RE back then) I made my way around the house and emerged a few minutes later. (I can still remember the feeling I had when I took that first look.)
I exclaimed, "This house is a HOME. It just FEELS right." I proceeded to look over the open floor plan and the sunken living room which I thought would be THE place to have parties and celebrate the holidays. It just looked like a holiday house. It was more than a feeling-- it was an instinctive reaction and response.
Long story short - we did not purchase the lot and we have been in our HOME for almost 25 years. Every party, every life event, even mundane daily chores have been special in our HOME. It felt right then, and it feels even more right NOW, all these years later.
When my buyers finally decide on the house for them, I always ask them, DOES IT FEEL RIGHT TO YOU? After hearing my story earlier in the process, they respond affirmatively and are happy and secure with their decision.
My house - my home - I love it - and I love helping others find their HOME! As my family and I prepare for our annual Christmas party in a few days, we again will know that we are truly HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - where we love to be!
A blessed holiday and happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010 to all!
P.S. Did anyone catch that we purchased our house on an open house AND right before Christmas? Who said open houses don't bring in serious buyers?
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