Is it a home or a house?
A reflection on what turns a building into a home, and why the difference matters for how you care for it.
This question isn't quite on par with the ol' chicken or the egg
conundrum, however I think it's as interesting.
What makes a house a home
Perhaps the question we should be answering is — what makes a house a home. A house is a structure: wood, nails, brick, all the mechanicals, your roof, flooring — all of it is part of the structure of your house. Everyone needs a house — shelter from the elements.
A home is very different. Home is where life happens — the joyful and sorrowful moments. Good times, hard times, happy and sad times. Those all add up to life experiences — they are memories that shape each of us in our own great story. Ours is a story that we continue to rewrite as we experience life in our homes.
Home is part of the family
I hope we, as a people, never forget the importance of a safe place to call home — especially growing up. We're shaped in our early years, and wouldn't it be amazing if everyone could have memories of play time, of growth marks on the wall, of a place to call our own — a sanctuary where thought and imagination can grow. It would be amazing, and it is possible if we as a people put our minds to it.
A house, apartment, trailer — those are structures. A home is what we experience inside a house. Home is part of the family. If we take care of our home, it will take care of us. It will be there to keep us comfortable. It will be there when we need solitude. It will be there when we gather, when we laugh, cry, cook, play and more.
The story we write inside
The irony of writing our own great story is that much of it changes with time, because our perspective changes — just as it does for a child on their toes, stretching to reach the fresh-baked cookie, to the adult who ponders whether they can stop after having just one. Thinking of home will bring back memories — not of the structure, but of what happens inside. The remodels, the repairs, the additions and new paint — it's all part of what changes a house into a home. Embrace the perspective changes. Make memories, capture them, log them in your journal as part of your story.
I want everyone to experience the shelter of a house — but more importantly, to experience the safety, joy and life in a home.
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- What paperwork do I need for a HELOC or home equity loan? A clear checklist of the documents lenders ask for when you apply for a HELOC or home equity loan, and why keeping them organized pays off.
- How do I prove home improvements for an appraisal or refinance? Learn what documents and records prove your home improvements to an appraiser or lender so upgrades actually count toward your home's value.
- What documents do I need to refinance my home? A clear checklist of the documents lenders ask for when you refinance your home — and how to keep them organized so the process moves faster.
Keep a record your home deserves.
Jack's View is the home management system that remembers so you don't have to. Maintenance, documents, projects, equipment — one place. Built by a homeowner, named for a craftsman.
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