A couple weeks ago, someone called wanting me to list their Father's home. I wasn't sure it was something I could take on, but I agreed to meet and talk. It was the least I could do since I have a working relationship with them and, quite honestly, they have become what I call "friends".
Driving up to the house - I knew - there was going to be a whole lot of "life" in it - and it had evidence from the year it was built straight up through some new features and updates. And once the son and I spent 10 minutes on the house, we spend the next hour and half on life inside this home that his parents owned for 45 years.
Is it important to look at and discuss the radio/turntable in the living room or the original flooring in one of the bedrooms? You know - it's all about perspective and it's the only way to get to know a client, what's important to them and how I need to work with them in order to have a good relationship.
It all starts with listening - even listening to which child slept in which bedroom and how many parties they had in the family area and seeing the home through someone else's eyes.
Looking at photos of their Father, listening about his life, I felt like I knew him - even though I would never meet him. I felt really lucky when I left - but not because I took the listing. It's because I was reminded of the difference between a house... and a home.
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