Studies suggest that the decision to buy a home is often tied to an emotional reaction a prospective purchaser experiences in the first few minutes during a home visit.  Perhaps there are ways that Realtors can enhance this experience with a house history.  While it's helpful to tell a prospect how nice it will be to enjoy morning coffee from the bay window overlooking the lagoon in back, people always connect with stories, and helping buyers visualize the people who years earlier experienced the same view peaks interest.

Don't let the fact that the home you are selling was built in 2006 deter you; rather ask the question, what would someone have been looking at if they had  been sitting in that spot 100, 200 or 300 years earlier.  In my region, the Lowcountry of South Carolina, there is a rich history surrounding every home that can be cultivated and re-told with a little research and creativity.

In this very competitive market, I've seen more Realtors thinking outside of the box and developing house histories to enhance their listings.  These include everything from a home's design, construction and upgrade geneology to more emotional histories that include fascinating anecdotes about prior owners, architects and visitors.

We've all heard our clients insist that their home is unique and it's worth the effort to listen carefully and find ways to tell a story about their home.  I've written a bit about my family's first home in this country at "Telling a Home's Story," http://activerain.com/blogsview/466753/Telling-a-Home-s.  I'll share some of my current clients' home histories in the coming weeks.