Special Owners - Special Listing - Established Clayton Park - 71 Woodward Crescent
This is a very special listing. Rarely does an opportunity come up to buy a family home, backing onto a forest in Clayton Park, owned by the same family for over 50 years, with close walking distance to school for your children. Owning this property will be a wonderful new beginning for a lucky family. I know this because I know the family well... I met the wonderful owners 25 years ago...
As many of you know, I obtained my Nova Scotia real estate licence in 1999/2000. A natural business to me as I had grown up with both parents in real estate with most after school time spent doing homework in their office, doing coffee runs, answering the phones and more. I went on to sell real estate in Toronto for 5 years before moving to Nova Scotia and returned to the business after our children were well established in school. Though experienced, I understood that I was starting at the beginning, would be considered a 'new agent' by the industry and many potential clients, and would need to be patient as I established my business. After meeting with a number of brokerages, I decided to join Royal LePage which became Royal LePage Atantic, starting in their Sunnyside Mall Bedford office. In those days, booking 'duty time' at a desk set up in the mall in a 'Kiosk' showcasing listings on stand up panels a few feet away, was an ideal way to meet and engage with potential new clients.
On my very first day, a wonderful retired couple stopped to look at the listings. Warm, friendly and very polite, we began an interesting conversation about their love for real estate and their curiosity and opinions on the market. We than talked about their long time cherished family home, how they had raised 2 terrific children there, how and why they loved the neighborhood, their community and more. I could feel the pride of ownership, I understood from our conversation that they were not interested in selling their home, that they did not have relationship with any agent but I also sensed they might be curious about the current value of their home and might be hesitant to ask. Together with many other life lessons, I would learn over the years how they truly appreciated and valued efforts and time shared with them by others. When I offered to do a market evaluation on their property, without any pressure intended, they thoughtfully discussed it and ultimately agreed. Looking back I also think they wanted to kindly support me as, by this point in the conversation, they knew that I was a new agent in the Halifax market. I could not have imagined how much they would go on to support me.
Over the years we have had many special visits, numerous phone calls, wonderful family and friends referrals, market discussions, neighborhood market value discussions and more. But the personal conversations about life, their living examples of valuable life lessons, their values, their kindness, their work ethic, their pride, their elegance and their great sense of humor individually and together is what I cherish the most. Visiting in person always took me back to a time where the clock stopped, even though their real cuckoo clock chimed in hourly, each time met with more laughter as the little cuckoo bird thrust forward in a game of peek-a-boo :) Conversations were always lively and interesting. Lots of questions and discussions. Coffee or tea was served on a special tray in beautiful cups with cookies and chocolate. Time together was never rushed. It somehow seemed suspended in time and was always a surprise when I realized the actual time. 'Until the next time' goodbyes often included handmade knitted doll gifts for my children, a bottle of their latest homemade wine to take home and gratitude for my visit.
The end of an era, the beginning of a new chapter...the Friendship Book says it all...
Knowing how they enjoyed it, most Christmas's I would bring the latest version of 'The Friendship Book'. Published annually since 1946, 'it aims to bring hope, wisdom and gentle encouragement'. It includes short daily readings or philosophies, some current, some historical, some religious, some philosophical, some long, some short and all 'food for thought' i.e. 'There is always something to look forward to - even in our old routines.' How lucky am I to know a senior couple who live it's intentions and to have such wise friends who embody the spirit of it's 'uplifting and life-affirming wisdom.'
As they write the new chapter of their lives, I have no doubt that the positive beautiful energy will stay with this property. And, in the generous spirit of the sellers, it is ready to be turned over to new owners ready to create their own new wonderful family memories. Despite updates over the years including the sunroom addition, the upgraded driveway, additional bathrooms, walk-in closet, custom moldings, landscaping, gardens and more, they understand that the rose colored carpets and custom drapery, elegance personified at the time, will likely need to be removed to reveal hardwood and more natural light. They understand that by today's standards, the kitchen and bathrooms are considered traditional and may not appeal to everyone. They appreciate that new owners may want to undertake updating windows and other things. This house and property 'as is' have been well maintained over many years with great pride of ownership... a great foundation for new owners to personalize and enjoy for years to come.
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