Does Your Home Have A Story To Tell?

I am often asked by my real estate partners to assist them in marketing their listings. They know I like to write and tell stories and that history is a passion of mine, so when they land a listing for maybe an older home in a community or a home being sold by a long time member of the community, they come to me for help in telling the story.

The stories I write, with maybe some historical pictures of either the home itself or the people or events I write about, end up on the backs of listing flyers, on blog sites, linked to MLS listings, displayed in the home during open houses, and are used to blanket the surrounding neighborhood, etc. The intention is to raise a little more awareness of the listing, create some intrigue and mystery or elevate the historical significance of the home, and most of all – to increase the emotional attachment a potential buyer might have for the home.

Who are these people?

It is amazing what you can find with a little internet research. I often start my search with County Records – available in most communities on-line. Go through the sales history of the home and make note of sellers and buyers names. Who are these people? Find out! Google the names, check the archives of local newspapers, check out the public library.

If the names of the people aren’t “significant”, then what was happening during the time the home was built or sold or what changes has that neighborhood seen over the years. There are stories that can be told about almost any home.

What a Wonderful Tribute!

A recent example of such a story is below. This took me a few hours to put together. I knew absolutely nothing about the home when I started, and the agent knew very little himself. I wrote a rough draft on what I could find out about the people and then asked the agent to “get approval” for the story from the seller (which was the daughter of the previous owners). Once she saw the story we were trying to tell, she was more than willing to share extra details and give us a few more tidbits. With her input and the research, I ended up with this story.

And after blasting it out to my contact lists and putting it on my blogs and blanketing the neighborhood along with open house invitations, the listing has become a hot topic around town. I have no doubt that this story will help find a buyer sooner than a listing with no story.

(And just think how this real estate agent can now use this listing to gather in more similar listings around town! If you don’t believe people want their stories told like this – you are wrong! What a wonderful tribute and gift you are giving when you include this strategy with your listings!)

Here’s the story

(I dressed it up on the flyers with pictures and graphics of course):

Rose Bowls, Blueberries, Daffodils, and Silent Snap-Counts

The last time this home came on the market was in 1947, so when I say that this “For Sale” offering is truly a rare and special event, I don’t think I’m over-exaggerating the unique opportunity that sits here before you. The home and surrounding land is known to local residents as “The Bond Blueberry Farm”, and this home has a wonderful place in the history of the Puyallup Valley and beyond.

Chuck Bond was a star for the University of Washington football team – one of many such UW stars to come from Puyallup High School over the years. Chuck was Captain of the Huskies team that faced the University of Pittsburgh in the 1937 Rose Bowl. Chuck was a defensive tackle but as good as he was, he and his teammates were unable to stop the Panther’s “Dream Backfield” of Bobby LaRue, Frank Patrick, Bill Daddio, and Marshall Goldberg who rolled up 254 yards and two rushing touchdowns enroute to a 21-0 victory.

One thing that was interesting about that Husky’s team was the way they won a key victory over powerhouse USC to secure that Rose Bowl birth. USC’s homefield advantage featured rowdy fans with megaphones and a HUGE marching band that would play as loud as possible while opponents had the ball, making communication and play-calling very difficult (Sound familiar Seattle Seahawks fans?).

So the Huskies came up with a unique system of silent hand signals to call plays – much like many of today’s NFL teams use. Years later, when asked about the “new” system of silent snap counts that teams were putting in to combat the noise levels at the Kingdome, Chuck responded, “We used them in 1936 to help us beat USC. You’d think that now, 50 years later, the pros might have perfected that particular tactic.” After graduation, he was drafted and played 22 games as an Offensive Tackle for the NFL Washington Redskins.

Chuck returned to Puyallup, married his sweetheart Francis, and in 1947 they purchased this home and started their blueberry farm. (Oh, and their son, Chuck Jr. later played for two UW Rose Bowl Teams in 1961 & 1964 – also playing Tackle. They were the first Father/Son Rose Bowl players in UW history.)

Chuck and Francis worked hard raising and selling their blueberries together, but they also loved to play hard too. They were avid tennis players and formed a formidable doubles team. The family joke was that Chuck would use his long arms to cover most of the court but he made Francis do all the running to get to the tough shots.

In 1971, the Bonds built the Puyallup Valley Tennis Club on a section of their property. They hosted tournaments and some of the local high schools would use the courts for matches and try-outs over the years. After Francis passed away, Chuck met Mary in 1979 who also loved to play tennis and she became Chuck’s new double’s partner and second wife. The Puyallup Valley Tennis Club later became the location for Puget Sound Gymnastics – which is still using the facility today.

Chuck and Francis (and Mary) were active supporters of Puyallup, including our famous Daffodil Festival. They were an important part of Puyallup history, and their beautiful brick farm home with the amazing interior woodwork, lots of square footage, lush acreage nestled into a wooded hill (the perfect combination of “secluded” and “close in”) is an important example of local historical architecture.

Don’t miss your chance to own this home! Make an offer today. Last offered For Sale in 1947 – If history holds true, the next time you’ll get an opportunity to own this home, if you miss out this time, should be around 2,071.

(Please contact me for your financing needs. I’d love to help you write the next chapter of this home’s history!)

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