By any other name, would your listing sell as sweet? Would "The Westfield" move more quickly than it's nameless counterparts? What do you think? Today, I decided to have a little fun and talk about house naming.
Since Parliament introduced the concept of street numbering in 1765, every house built in a town or city is designated with a number, followed by the name of the road or street it is on. The number identifies the location of a property on the road; this makes it easier for the postal service and emergency personnel to find where the house is located.
Although each house has a specific number, it is assigned along with the street name, which makes up the home address. Identifying a home by a personalized name can add a unique and interesting statement about the property, as well as the personality of the homeowners; this also distinguishes it from others on the street. Just a simple address can be a bore when characterizing a home or property. To have more than just a number and a street name to characterize a home, people have chosen to name their property for historical, sentimental/personal, and humorous reasons over the years. All are good reasons, but what exactly is in a (house) name?
House names are said to have originated from England when the rich would name their homes according to ancestry, location, and family titles. Manors, halls, castles, and lodges in England were named, and then over time others starting catching on and doing the same. You might recognize the famously named home below, located right here in the USA. Yep, it's Graceland. And though these days, we're usually talking about what celebs are naming their kids, you may recall these star home monikers: Neverland (Michael Jackson), The Manor (Aaron Spelling), and Dollywood (just kidding).
“The Cottage,” “The Bungalow,” and “The Lodge” all seem to be pretty generic, yet common names people give their homes. But what about the names that give a whole character to the house? My neighbor’s call their property “Marymont” which is the combination of part of a name and part of our town. Cabins that are located in the mountains are also sometimes given unique names that characterize them. Naming them after wildlife and landscapes are quite popular ideas. Some names include "Eagle's Landing," "Valley View," and "Timber Grove." Vacation beach getaways also commonly have names that are a play on words and describe a relaxing atmosphere. “Windswept” is the name of the beach house my family has stayed in for years in Duck, NC. These names are unique enough to give the house character, but not too extravagant for a house.
You can really get creative when creating a sign for the home with the name on it. Adding a personalized font and picture can jazz up a property as well. You can make your own, or order them online. Remember, if you do have a sign with the name of your home on it, make sure your designated house number is on or near the location.
Homeowners, make sure you check to see if local law prohibits the naming of your home. Don’t worry about the value of your house dropping if you decide to name your house; in some cases it can add value and attract buyers (in the case you are selling your home) if the name stands out. If you choose a suitable name, there shouldn’t be a problem, but choose carefully. Also, before naming your house, do some research in your area to make sure you are not duplicating the name of another local property in your zip code; it could get confusing or pose problems.
Does your house have a name? If so, what is it? If not, what would you name it? Check out this link for more information on naming your house. It includes favorite names, help with choosing your house name, unusual names, and much more to help you on your way to having a fabulously named home!
Posted By: U.S. Inspect Blog
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