A couple of weeks ago, we announced that we will be releasing a new podcast in March, and we are looking for guests to lend their voice or their information to our podcast. We created a survey for people who are interested in being a part of this new project. We received great responses, and I thought I would take this opportunity to write a little bit more about what we intend to accomplish by distributing a podcast and hopefully motivate you to be a participant, a listener, or both.

Did I Always Want An Old Home?

Honestly, I did not enter old home ownership with enthusiasm. Nearly two years ago, I wrote a three-part series of posts about how Andy and I became the owners of BHH. (Part I, Part II, Part III) I wrote about our childhood homes and the experiences that led us to BHH.

During that series of posts, I briefly touched on my feelings about old homes, but there was so much more. I did not want to own an old home because I was afraid. Naturally, I was afraid of lead, asbestos, termites, and mold. However, my biggest fear was money. I was desperately afraid that an old home would be a giant money pit that we would never dig our way out of.  I was certain that an old home would systematically fall apart until we were sitting in a pile of rubble, uninsurable, with a mortgage to pay. I am not naturally a pessimist, but Andy and I had never experienced an entirely positive real estate transaction. My emotional baggage was ever-present and oh so heavy.

From Old Home Wary to Old Home Warrior

During our real estate search, something changed. Actually, a few somethings changed. First, I set my discomfort aside and placed my trust in Andy that buying an old house was the right move. Nothing is without risk, and I knew Andy wanted only good things for our family.

Next, our town has a thriving economy, based in part, on the history of the area and a vibrant historic Main Street.

Via

The majority of the homes where we live are pre-1940 and several are listed on the Historic Register. The town even employees a part-time Historian. Around here, old homes are mainstream. Cookie cutter housing developments do not exist. Nary a tract home can be found.

 

Once we bought BHH, there was an immediate shift for me. I fell in love with the character of BHH specifically, and I began to see all of the beauty in the details of old houses. My running routes take me all over town, and no two old houses are completely alike. Those differences are so special.

 

I knew that my mind shift was complete when I started feeling furious while watching home renovation shows that knock out walls and rip out old hardwood because “It takes too long to finish, and we are on a tight deadline.” I watched angrily as contractors covered beautiful brick fireplaces with sleek modern tile as a form of “adding character.”

Clearly, I needed to relax and step away from the television. Fortunately, the widely swinging pendulum of my emotions has settled steadily in the middle. What remains is the desire to preserve and celebrate the beauty of old houses as they are because they are treasures.

The Podcast

This blog is the story of BHH, and that will naturally play a part in our new podcast. However, what I really want to do is tell the story of other old homes and their owners. That is YOUR story. I want to explore the mysteries and details of old houses. I want to talk about preservation, restoration, and thoughtful renovation.

We have planned an informative, motivational, and light-hearted podcast.  It is our desire to celebrate the history of old houses as well as serve as a resource for people who are searching for real estate but are fearful of owning an old home just like I was. In other words, if you appreciate old houses in any way, this podcast is for you.

The survey for our podcast is still open. If you have already answered the survey, we will be contacting you soon. If you would like to be a part of this project, please complete the survey right away.  The deadline to be a part of our first episode is January 31st. However, the survey will remain open, and we will match you with future episodes.

Tell us what you think. Do you have a story to tell? Will you listen to the podcast?