Years ago, if I'd hear about a foreclosed home, I wondered how in the world that could happen. Maybe the person was just irresponsible? Or lazy? Why didn't the person just get a better job and pay for their house? Yes, foreclosures occurred, but it was unusual to hear about or see one. Fast forward to today, where it's so much more common than any of us thought it would ever be.
We do work for banks to help clean and fix up these homes. Some are left empty, some are full of "stuff". But no matter what, being in these homes has taught us many lessons. By the time we're done, we've learned so much about the Owners…..each home has it's own personality and story.
One house was empty except for a teenage girls room. Clothing, jewelry, shoes, furniture, pictures were strewn all over the room. By the pictures we saw, she looked to be about 15. Then we noticed something on a ledge. It was the church program showing the obituary of her Father's death a few years earlier. We could only imagine what happened and wonder why all her possessions were still there.
We worked in another home where someone had used a red magic marker and written "I HATE THIS HOUSE" on an interior door. There were obscenities written all over the walls. Why would someone treat a home like this? Is is right to do this kind of damage? No, but I understand that there's certainly got to be anger and frustration over losing your homestead.
And yesterday, we worked in a 4,300 square foot home in Eden Prairie. No damage done to this one and no items left to clean out. But, by the time we were done, we knew they had a dog and a couple of kids who liked pasta and marshmallows. Again, even with no items in the home, there is a history to tell.
The sadness of foreclosures has been astounding to me…it becomes personal on almost every job we do. It's made me thankful for so much and I count my blessings every day….all along wishing that I could do something to change their situation. Now, when I see a foreclosure for sale I think about it totally differently. And most of all, I learned not to judge anyone's situation.
When we're done with a house and see the sparkle come back, it makes the sadness go away because we're preparing it for the next family who will move in, love living there and make it a home again.
