The secret lives of houses: Homeowner inherits house from elderly stranger

A homeowner in Finland has shared how he inherited his house from an elderly stranger.

The owner, who doesn’t reveal his name, shared the touching story in a post online.

“Five years ago, I received this house from a man I had never met,” he wrote, sharing photos of the property to the Facebook group Old House explorer. 

“He had inherited the house but he was too old to renovate it.”

The homeowner revealed he had dreamed about the house since he was a child, but was never in a position to buy it.

Then, it would seem, fate stepped in.

“However, the man decided to give me the house, as he thought I was the right person to renovate his childhood home,” he wrote.

The new owner didn’t reveal how the elderly man knew of his connection to the home.

He did share a series of before and after photos, showing his hard work.

One of the before photos of the exterior of the home shows a drab and tired property.

An after photo shows the same exterior brought back to life with a fresh paint job.

The home’s original kitchen was well used, but also well worn.

The remodelled kitchen shows a rejuvenated and inviting room, with ornate wallpaper, pops of colour in the striped curtains and cabinetry trim.

“Five years and more than 4000 hours of hard work later the ground floor is now finished,” he wrote. 

The homeowner said the man who left him the property died last year and so won’t see the final result.

“Nevertheless, I hope I made him proud,” the owner wrote.

Fellow social media users were quick to reassure the owner he indeed did himself proud.

“You’ve done a beautiful job,” one person wrote.

“I’m sure he’s proud of it,” a second person wrote.

“Wow…this is wonderful. The previous owner would be delighted,” another shared.

“What a gorgeous time capsule and the gift of a lifetime. I hope you continue to honor him and not turn the house into a modern trendy nightmare,” yet another wrote.

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