How to Preserve the Memory of Your Family Home Before It Sells
The day you accept an offer, the clock starts. The house you grew up in — its siding color, the porch, the back yard — belongs to someone else in 30 to 90 days. Here is how to capture it permanently before the keys change hands.
Why the window matters
Most people intend to document the family home before selling. Very few do. Here is what gets in the way:
- The weeks between listing and closing are the most logistically overwhelming of the entire process
- The house is staged — furniture removed, personal items packed — and looks less like home
- After closing, access is gone
The best photos for a house model are taken before staging begins. That is also the easiest time to order — before the chaos of closing.
How to preserve your family home in 4 steps
- Take a photo of the exteriorA straight-on shot from across the street works best. Include the full facade, ideally in daylight. If you have a corner lot, a diagonal shot captures more of the house. You do not need a professional photographer.
- Place your order and upload the photoSelect your tier (Essentials $300, Heritage $550, Architectural $750 CAD). Upload the photo at checkout. Write a short note about the house if you want — we read every one.
- Approve your digital draftWithin 24–48 hours, our designer sends you a 3D rendering of the house for your approval. You can request adjustments before production begins.
- Receive your model7–10 business days to build. 2–10 days shipping. The model arrives before most closings if you order at listing.
Which tier for a preservation keepsake
Frequently asked questions
What if the house has already sold and I didn't take photos?
We can work from Google Street View, real estate listing photos, or any historical photos you have. The model will reflect the house as shown in the available photo. Contact us before ordering if you are unsure about photo quality.
Can multiple siblings get a model of the same house?
Yes. We produce each model individually — siblings can each order their own, or one sibling can order for everyone. See our sibling sets page for how estate families typically handle this.
What if the house needs repairs before selling? Should I wait?
Order from the photo that captures how the house looked to your family — not the staged or repaired version. The house you want to remember is the one your family lived in, not the one the new owners see.
Is this a common thing people do?
Yes, and growing. The primary use cases we see are: selling the family home, moving an aging parent to assisted living, and estate settlement. Preserving a home before sale is the most time-sensitive of the three, which is why we highlight it specifically.
Can I give it as a gift to a parent who is emotional about the sale?
This is one of the most meaningful use cases we see. See our gift for parent moving page for more on how to approach this.