When A House Becomes A Home

January 2020

Congratulations, we are on record!  The five words buyers and sellers wait to hear from the closing attorney that a sale is official. The recording of the deed makes it official, but when does a house become a home?  Is it move in day, after the last box has been unpacked, or once family photos have been hung and a fresh coat of paint covers the walls?  

We lived in our first home for 3 years, 2 years in our second home, 6 years in our third home and this month we’ll be celebrating our 1-year anniversary in our current home.  This upcoming anniversary got me thinking about when a house becomes home.  

Looking back, it was different for each address.  Our first home felt like home before we owned it thanks to my Father in law.  He helped us buy the house, renovate the house, taught us plumbing and electrical, tiling and the art of wallpaper removal.  His helping hand was in every room beginning with the conversation we had in the basement during the open house.  He said, “If this is the house you want, I will help you.”  With that, Grafton Street became home in my eyes and now in my memories long before the sale was recorded.  My love for real estate was born in that little house.

Years later, house number four was different.  It wasn’t a planned move.  We loved the home we were in but had always said that if we found a house with x, y and z, we’d consider moving.  It was one of those conversations that’s fun to have, but you don’t think you’ll act on.  Well, the house with everything we said we wanted was listed and 39 days later, we owned it.  With such a quick turnaround, it felt more like “What the hell did we just do?” than “Welcome Home!” at first.   As our first anniversary approaches, I realize that while this one took longer than the rest, it’s the memories we create with family and friends, the traditions we start that turn a house into a home.  When you can walk into any room and remember the time……that’s when you know you’re home.