Honoring a Multi-Generational Journey

By Deborah Wade

From the moment I first stepped onto the property, I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary listing. Don and Lorraine’s farmette had been the backdrop to decades of multigenerational family life and love. They’d raised their family there along with chickens, and vegetables they’d sell at the farmers’ market. This property had history and a heartbeat.

Three homes stood on the property: a 19th-century stately brick home with a detached cottage; a charming log cabin from the 1700s where Don’s dad had lived in his later years; and a rancher built in 2009 to accommodate Lorraine’s mother. After their grandparents passed, Don and Lorraine’s grown daughters moved back into the two now-empty houses with their young families; an arrangement that lasted the better part of a decade and allowed Don and Lorraine to watch their grandchildren grow. 

Eventually, the daughters’ lives and careers took them and their families out west. Don and Lorraine rented the two empty houses, but then came the time when they decided to downsize and move. I met regularly with them over two years, planning how to downsize and market their home. While it could be sold as two parcels, the couple and their family felt the property should be sold whole if possible. 

After the tenants left and the homes were emptied, the entire property was listed as one offering, with a wink in the remarks: chickens convey. This line made people smile and alluded to the property’s history and multigenerational lifestyle.

The first weekend generated a flood of interest, but then showings became intermittent. Don, Lorraine, and I discussed breaking the listing into two parcels. Then, Leah and Harry came to take a tour of the rancher, later returning with Leah’s parents and sister. The family’s eyes lit up as they explored the property and possibilities. A shared dream of multigenerational living took shape before our eyes. And yes – they wanted the chickens!

Sometimes, it’s not just about selling a property; it’s about honoring a journey.

A Senior Real Estate Specialist with Re/Max Executive, Deborah Wade has helped Central Maryland “boomers” and their families transition through the changes life brings for nearly two decades.