"Having our house on the Wash Park Home Tour was the easiest donation we ever made to the Wash Park community. We learned the house didn't need to be perfectly styled and spotless. People came to feel the home atmoshpere and get inspired. The Home Tour team took over in the morning and when we came back we couldn't even imagine 1,500 people had been through our house. Weeks later, we still received compliments on our house which made us feel good."

Sabine Taal & Marcel Van den Berg - 2008 Home Owner

 

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"We didn’t know what to expect when we agreed to participate in the 2007 Wash Park Home Tour. Knowing that proceeds from the Tour went towards funding school enrichment at Steele Elementary was a major factor, however allowing people to roam through our home for an entire day raised questions for us.

All of our questions were answered after meeting with the Steele Elementary Home Tour committee, a highly competent group of parent volunteers who have been putting on the Home Tour for more than 11 years. We were impressed with their attention to detail and their knowledge around homeowner issues such as security and insurance. They were open to keeping certain parts of the home private and were sensitive to keeping traffic moving throughout the house on the day of the Tour.
 
The day before the Tour, we decided to hire a photographer to take photos of our home, given it was in tip top condition for the Tour. These photos may come in handy if we decide to sell our home in the future. On the eve of the Home Tour, a friendly volunteer stopped by with a gift basket filled with thoughtful gifts, such as beautiful hand painted cards of our home, a painted picture of our home, wine and other goodies.
 
On the day of the Tour, everything happened like clockwork. Our house captain arrived promptly and assured us of the procedure for the day. There were more than 20 volunteers staffed at our home, ensuring traffic moved throughout the home and providing security for our home.
 
When we got home that afternoon, we were amazed at the spotless condition of our home.
 
It just felt good to participate in the Wash Park Home Tour. People continue to compliment us on our home, having toured it in 2007, and we proudly display our Wash Park Home Tour print in our home, knowing we participated in a great event that brings the community and school together for the benefit of our children. Perhaps the best compliment was a follow up visit from a Better Homes & Gardens editor, who was interested in photographing our home for a potential article.
 
Thank you to the Steele Parents and Community for opening up your homes and spending your time raising money for our great school!"
Kyle and Janice Fritsch - 2007 Home Owner

 

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"We were very happy to have our home on the Wash Park Home Tour. The Tour is a great fundraiser for Steele. We were very busy beforehand finishing up projects, but it turned out to be a good motivator. The volunteers and insurance carried by the tour removed any concerns we may have had. Afterwards we had a clean, complete home with a lovely, generous gift basket to enjoy. "

Kevin & Carla Dickson - 2008 Home Owner

 

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"My experience with putting my home on the WPHT was so positive that I volunteered to help the next year! Of course, I didn’t know things would turn out this way at the beginning.

 

Our questions came in phases. My first question: how much work will this make for us? The bottom line was that aside from the projects of our own making (which needed to get done anyway), being on the home tour didn’t require much from us other than making ourselves available to be interviewed or photographed. As for the projects we wanted to finish, the tour was a perfect motivator to get them done. We’d still be working on them if not for the tour!

 

The issue that concerned me the most was not being in my house when hundreds of people were going through it. I love entertaining and I love orchestrating events at our house. It was hard for me to think of all those people walking through my house without me there to (I’ll admit it) control everything. I have to say I was totally impressed with the system set up to ensure that after 1,000 strangers tour your home, it will be no worse for wear afterwards. The Steele committee covered all the bases – extra insurance, people stationed throughout the house, even booties to protect the floors. The day our house was on the tour was a rainy one. When we came home, everything was intact, the floors were fine, the walls were fine, nothing was missing. When they told us more than 1,000 people had come through, we were stunned.

 

Perhaps the best part of being on the WPHT was getting to know the WPHT committee. Our child did not go to Steele, so I was meeting everyone for the first time. Not only was everyone we worked with absolutely professional and detail-oriented, but they were all so nice! I signed up to help the following year in part to support my neighborhood school and in part to stay connected with all these great neighbors that I’d just met.

 

In short, the whole experience was great. In sharing a bit of ourselves, we got so much in return. "

Ellin Rosenthal & Ron Faleide - 2008 Home Owner