Has Your House Been on a Tour?
Have any of you had your house opened up on a neighborhood house tour? Any negatives to this that you’ve experienced?
Have any of you had your house opened up on a neighborhood house tour? Any negatives to this that you’ve experienced?
MM and Bob Marvin, as always, are right. I’ve worked on the PLG house tour for the past two years, as well a going on many, many more all over the borough and can attest to both the vigilence and professionalism of house-sitters and the respectful nature of attendees (at $20 or so a ticket, you aren’t going to get many people interested in mayhem or robbery – you can do that for free elsewhere). And you know that everyone here would love to see your house without having to be personally invited by you!
I like house tours. The BHA house tours are like military operations. Those owners are banished for the duration.
I went on a great house tour in Fort Greene and another one in Clinton Hill. I’m going to make an effort to broaden my range next Spring.
“I thought people put their house on the tour when they were ready to sell”
AFAIK most tours won’t include houses that are for sale–organizers don’t want their annual house tours confused with real estate open houses.
DIBS,
The DOB and HPD inspectors are unionized; I don’t know about the burglars 🙂
dont do it dave!!!! someone’s gonna steal your collection of ancient phalluses!
*rob*
I’ve had my Bed Stuy house on a housetour, and I’ve been the chairperson of the Crown Heights North housetours for the last 4 years. Bob is right, to my knowledge, there has never been a robbery or break in related to any house tour. As mopar said, there are volunteers in every room on a tour, and no one gets past the front door without a brochure, which is the proof of a paid ticket. Snatch and grabbers, or people casing the joint aren’t very likely to pay the $20-$25 price of admission to maybe grab some silverware.
Here are some basic tenents of all house tours: The homeowner only shows what he/she wants to. You don’t want people in your bedroom, or any other room, you either don’t show that floor, or you close the door, or rope it off so no one gets in. A volunteer should be there to inforce your choice, although I have never seen anyone try to open closed doors. This isn’t a real estate open house.
Photography can be at the discretion of the tour organizers or the homeowner. We leave it up to the homeowner, and ask that one asks before taking pictures. We don’t encourage it, as people have a right to their privacy, although I have to admit, there have been houses I would have love to have had reminders of for decorating ideas. Often, organizations post official pictures on their websites, with the owner’s permission.
Obviously, one has to use common sense. If you are worried someone is going to lift Grandma’s silver, don’t leave it out. We ask that people put away small valuables, and make sure the traffic path is clear of obstacles like pieces of furniture jutting out, or ends of rugs coming up, for safety’s sake as well as protecting your valuable stuff.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun. When my house was on tour, we met some really great people. Most people on house tours are either old house fanatics or decorating fans, both groups are interested in how people make their mostly brownstone/row houses work in the 21st century. Old house people love seeing period detail and craftsmanship, and people are always looking for good decorating ideas.
As to the wisdom of doing this in *gasp* Bed Stuy, the Brownstoners of Bed Stuy have been putting on house tours for over 30 plus years, going way back to the late 1970’s. They wanted to show that Bed Stuy was beautiful, and people were proud of their homes, especially at a time when the name was synonomous with crime and violence. Many people who came on those early tours (my Mom and I had our house on tour in 1984) bought houses in the neighborhood because of the beauty they saw. It’s a very positive experience for all concerned.
Do it, Dave!
DIBS, being on a tour is fun but it can also be hectic. be sure to get all or most of your projects (including a cleaning crew) out of the way a couple of days prior to the tour. that way, if there’s an emergency (and trust me they do come up), it will allow you adequate time to deal with it. the first time we were on the tour (PLG) we really weren’t prepared, at least for little minor things like staging and floral arrangements which can take up quite a bit of time. the second time we were way ahead of the game and the house reflected it. good luck!
jessi, rob doesn’t itemize.
Rob, when I went to the Ft. Greene house tour the price of admission was tax deductible.