Login
Uncovering a home’s story is the best part of the job
A recent story making the headlines sparked our imaginations. While not directly relating to real estate and housing, its premise is familiar to anyone who has discovered long-lost memories within an older home.
A Georgia woman walked into her local Goodwill and noticed a vintage slide projector. She opens it up upon purchasing, and in the course of doing so, is taken back in time; pulled into the world of a family from another era.
The photo slides Kristie Baeumert discovered inside of the projector are almost Vogue magazine-spread-worthy. A woman in her thirties or forties appears frequently and is impeccably dressed. Two little girls, also smartly dressed in matching outfits make an appearance; exuding joy and youthful innocence. Few clues were offered as to the family’s identity or location other than “Kansas” written on the box.
Kristie fell in love with the photos and, intrigued by the family, posted them on Facebook where the story quickly gained traction. After appearing on national television, a woman from the family reached out asking for a return of the photos without any media attention.
Although Ms. Baeumert’s “magic” projector was found in the Goodwill, it could have just as easily been discovered abandoned in a nook or attic of an older home. Older and historic homes may have challenging repairs and restorations but may also have gorgeous original woodwork, paneling or wallpaper hidden under a less interesting redo.
One of the best aspects of working in residential real estate is the ability to dig into the story of a home. The home could be of historic significance like the late 19th century Queen Anne homes perched above downtown Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Angelino Heights, or modern masterpieces like the Lima Residence by Abramson Teiger Architects.
These homes have stories eager to be told. And some have unexpected surprises or even cash windfalls. A man in Arizona known for stashing things around his home had a secret when he passed away in 2001. His daughters thoroughly examined the home knowing he was prone to hide things. It wasn’t until the Paradise Valley home was sold after they had thought it cleared of any valuables, was the discovery made.
When the couple who moved in decided to renovate, they uncovered $500,000 in cash hidden in the walls. Then, the couple and the man’s daughters went to court over who got to keep the money. Ultimately, the courts ruled in favor of the man’s heirs and the money had to be returned to them.
Not every home or property has such an interesting backstory—walls groaning with undiscovered cash or antiques.
However, every home does have a tale to tell. It has a reason for being built; a series of people who chose to make it their home. Even a nondescript brand-new tract home in a gated community is part of a surrounding neighborhood…and that neighborhood has a story.
It’s a favorite part of the job for many real estate professionals— to hunt for the story of a home no matter how big or small. You never know—you just might stumble across some treasure.