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Houses and friends, houses as friends.

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796

 

Houses as friends. They can be good friends. Houses provide things friends also provide. At times when I have guests in my home it feels like I'm introducing my house the same way I'd introduce a treasured friend. You know, when you come visit me here I'll likely tell you about the nice things I've done for 2 Echols St. How I've cared for her, and thus I'm insured of her returning the favor for years to come. You'll see that I'm proud of 2 Echols like I'm proud of my friendships that I've cultivated over the years. You'll  hear that I'm humbled by the good things that have come out of our knowing each other. We've somehow cared for each other 2 Echols and I.

In February we will have been together 20 years, 2 Echols, Charles and M., Paige and Pam. My daughters consider her a friend as well. In fact they would prefer that 2 Echols remain in their lives much, much longer. A friendship, giving and taking, with a life of it's own.

Just like my friendships with people my friendship with 2 Echols is at once common and unique. While we all may have a home, we only have 'our' home, and just 'our' friendships filled with a unique living history.

Houses as friends...a little different than the human kind of friend but friends nonetheless.

                               

                                                  

Posted by

Proudly serving your real estate needs in Bentonville, Rogers and Bella Vista, AR 479-253-3796. I will provide a free market value analysis of your property. Just ask!

charles.edwards1@coldwellbanker.com 

Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I have moved so much yet find that with each home, there are special memories to take with me.

Oct 24, 2010 04:16 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Charles: This is a great post. You have a real knack for using not that many words and painting a very big picture. I've always thought of homes as friends. I've been fortunate to have owned a couple of homes that I felt very close to. 

Oct 24, 2010 05:04 AM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Rene, Thank you. Your posts are always an inspiration to me and I look forard to reading more of them.

I enjoy reading blogs of every description, long short and in between. I try to write blogs that do not require the reader to scroll downward. It is a little challenge I always keep in mind as I write.

Oct 24, 2010 05:28 AM
Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

My Mom & Dad bought our home in Earlington in 1958, and my Dad lived there the rest of his life until 1998. I don't blame him. It wasn't a mansion or anything, but it was a wonderful home in a great location. It had a lot of 1920's type charm. I'm coming up on matching a record now, 8 years...

Oct 24, 2010 06:52 AM
Lisa Glowacki
Lisa Glowacki - Rhode Island & Massachusetts - Tiverton, RI
Real Estate Broker - RI & MA

Every home has a personality and each tells a story.   Some are stories of days gone by and some are stories that have not yet been told.  This is what I love about this business.  They could be twins but very different.  Some how one depends on the other to flourish and shine.  Empty houses have a certain sadness to them in my opinion. 

Oct 24, 2010 08:03 AM
Karen Feltman
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA KW Legacy Group - Cedar Rapids, IA
Relocation Specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I too had a difficult time saying goodbye to the first home where my children had lived.  Even though I knew that it was what was best, since we had grown out of the house some time ago, it was still hard.  The same went for the house that I grew up in.  It was my home with my parents for 25 years and then for 6 years after that when my brother and his wife moved in.  It was difficult to let go of that one too.  They do become friends!

Oct 24, 2010 09:46 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Charles your theme made me think of cars as friends too. You really get hit with this sentimental value on homes and cars when you have had them a long time with the memories and you sell them.

Oct 24, 2010 10:51 AM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

This is a good look at a home when many are simply thinking of the investment and concerned about prices going up or down.  Homes when they are a primary residence are not just an investment.

Oct 24, 2010 12:33 PM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Charles. this is a nicely written with a well deserved star. We are in complete agreement and it's good to see this perspective when so many look at homes as dollars and cent, investment, paperwork! I think you may have inspired me to do a post on  this subject!

Oct 24, 2010 01:57 PM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Russell, Thank you for the kind words.  I hope I have inspired you, your posts often inspire me.

Christine, Life cannot be all about money can it?

Gary, Agreed. I have some good memories of cars I enjoyed owning. My all time fav was a Volvo by the way. It was the quietest car I've ever owned.

Karen, Thank you for sharing that. My all time favorite home is likely the one I grew up in. 25 Knight St. Westbrook, Maine. However 2 Echols is gaining.

Erica, I always like it when you stop by. Your posts are terrific and always well presented.

Lisa, Agreed. I like a house with personality and charm.

 

Oct 24, 2010 02:08 PM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Love it!

Oct 24, 2010 02:39 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Good angle on home ownership.  I guess we don't own our friends, we share space with those with whom we are comfortable.

Oct 24, 2010 04:14 PM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Jane, Thanks for stopping by.  I could say that most folks never own their homes either..

Doug, Glad you did love it.See you soon buddy. NARdi Gras or bust!

Oct 25, 2010 01:57 AM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

I would same the same thing about each of my Golden Retrievers over the years. They have been my friend each and every one each and every time.

Oct 25, 2010 10:48 AM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Cheryl, Your Retrievers and my Boston Terriers.

Oct 25, 2010 11:37 AM
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI
Keller Williams Indianapolis Metro NE - Carmel, IN
Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

Charles--We bring our babies home to our house.  We plant trees and watch them grow 20 feet tall.  We paint the front door green, then black, then red.  We decorate for holidays.  Come in out of the rain.  A piece of our history.  Well deserved feature---congratulations!!

Oct 25, 2010 07:01 PM
Tish Lloyd
BlueCoast Realty Corporation - Wilmington, NC
Broker - Wilmington NC and Surrounding Beaches

I believe our houses become our homes because they are extensions of the people we've become.  They change and evolve just as we do through the phases of our lives.  Great post.

Oct 26, 2010 03:26 PM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Pat, We do Pat, I've done all that.

Tish, Thank you.

Oct 26, 2010 03:30 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Charles- houses, especially ones we lived in for longer periods of time, have special meaning and special memories.

Oct 29, 2010 05:06 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I think once you turn that house into a home, it’s very easy for your home to become a friend.

Oct 30, 2010 01:49 PM