Motivation For Opening One's Home to House Tours
Some Park Slope friends and I were discussing the upcoming Park Slope Civic Council house tour last night and I was left wondering about the issue of motivation. From the civic council’s website: “In the early years, the Civic Council used the House Tour as a way to convince people to move here rather than…
Some Park Slope friends and I were discussing the upcoming Park Slope Civic Council house tour last night and I was left wondering about the issue of motivation.
From the civic council’s website:
“In the early years, the Civic Council used the House Tour as a way to convince people to move here rather than the suburbs, thus playing a major role in saving Park Slope from the ravages that destroyed many other New York City neighborhoods.
In more recent years, the House Tour, generally held the first Sunday after Mothers’ Day, has become the major fund raiser for the Civic Council, with proceeds plowed back into the community in our Grants Program. Read about the $10,000 we awarded last year to 18 neighborhood schools and organizations.”
My friends stated that they are not interested in opening their home to hordes of “snarky voyeurs,” especially after their neighbor did so and “was appalled at the rude comments of some visitors as well as the damage done to her custom-made Angela Adams rugs.”
It seems that the early motivation to participate in these open houses(proving that one CAN rescue an old home in a run-down neighborhood) no longer applies. Of course, I completely understand the desire to participate as a way to aid fundraising, but do you think the owner’s of these houses are only thinking of raising money for a good cause or is the primary motivation to show off?
My elderly neighbors here in Brooklyn Heights told me that in the 50’s and 60’s the house tours were hardly glamorous but very practical and informative. Today, showing off “a rare painting of Marilyn Monroe” hardly seems comparable. What do you think?
My partner so hated the idea of strangers in our home she left town the w/e of the tour. Meanwhile I chatted with all kinds of different folks about doorknobs, paint colors, neighborhood history, DIY projects gone awry, gardening etc etc. People couldn’t have been nicer and I had a blast. Not a “snarky voyeur” in sight.
“I actually believe these houses are a shared legacy that go beyond individual ownership”
me to!
Yes, I give it to those who are willing to open their homes. I love seeing them, and am respectful of the homes when in them.
But I can’t imagine ever getting to a place where I’d be willing to open my home to hordes of strangers. So I certainly give credit to those who do.
Well said, Grand Army.
I remember fondly so many wonderful houses I’ve seen on these tours and am so grateful and amazed that people open their homes to the public to tromp through. There was one in Prospect Park South that went on the market 6 months or a year later, and it was so nice to have visited when the owner was there happily chatting with visitors about the history of the gorgeous house, how he’d refinished the floors himself with wax instead of poly, etc. Some of those big old mansions have multiple mysterious back stairways, nursery schoolrooms, double parlors, sleeping porches, etc.
Honestly, this post strikes me as pretty mean-spirited. I guess I’m defensive because I not only help organize our local house tour but I’ve also had my home on it (you gotta walk the walk at some point). Truly, it’s fun, friendly and full of community spirit. And, all importantly, a great fundraiser. It also takes months and months of hard work to pull off successfully.
It’s frankly so difficult to recruit home owners that who really cares what their motivation is? I mean, is “showing off” a crime against humanity or something? I’ve noticed that architects and interior designers are often among our home owners. Are they promoting their businesses? Obviously, yes, but then again their homes are often spectacular and well worth seeing.
I actually believe these houses are a shared legacy that go beyond individual ownership. House tour goers love seeing them up close and the practical / informative aspects are still relevant.
I love house tours, too! I’d go to more but Mr. Bessie willl only put up with one day a year of constantly taking his shoes off. I go to see how other people decorate and arrange furniture. I think the motivation of the house owners is civic connectedness, resale in the immediate future, and showing off a new renovation. It’s been surprising in recent years to see the bus loads of tourists at the Park Slope tours.
What BHS said; PLUS, having had my house on our (PLG) tour 4 times between ´77 and´06, I can tell you that putting your house on tour provides GREAT motivation for getting projects finished AND it´s a lot of fun. I never had any snarcy comments.
many of the tours are the primary fundraisers for neighborhood organizations. Presumably most homeowners do it to support those organizations and because they’re proud of their homes or have enjoyed the tour over the years and want to do their part for the tour itself. I LOVE house tours.