House Raising Day with Realty Austin & Habitat for Humanity

House Raising Day with Realty Austin & Habitat for Humanity

Realty Austin - Habitat for Humanity House Raising Day

As most of the readers of this blog already know, I have been an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of Austin Habitat for Humanity since 1996. I’ve written about my experiences with them both locally in Austin as well as my blog post about my time with The Gulf Coast, Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Project after Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi. Though I have ben a luxury home broker during my career, I’ve learned that for many people, luxury is defined by the ability to actually own a home! There are numerous good reasons and opportunities to help in any community that has a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Building homes for folks who really deserve a chance at a better life, (Habitat says it’s a “Hand up, not a Hand Out”) while revitalizing neighborhoods and generating a sense of community! Volunteering comes in many ways; sometimes it’s money materials or food as a donation, sometimes helping with some sort of positive influence in the background to assist an organization behind the scenes and at Austin Habitat for Humanity, it’s also opportunity to work side by side with others in the “hands on” process of building a home.

Last year, after more than 15 years at my former company, I made a change and moved with a number of my associates to my new company, Realty Austin. For many reasons, I like it here and one of the most striking aspects of this new company is the genuine focus on giving back to the community where we have been so successful. This year the company made a matching challenge to it’s agents to raise funds to build a home for Austin Habitat for Humanity. Within a short time the agents met the company challenge and raised the funds to build a home. Now the agents and Brokers are stepping up to volunteer their time and talent over the next few weeks to build a new home with the Rodriguez Family. The short video was filmed on the first day of construction, “house raising day” when the walls, rafters, house wrap and windows are all completed in one day. It can be one of the hardest days to volunteer but also rewarding. At the end of the day you see so much accomplished. With more than 20 Realty Austin folks, the Rodriguez family, other Habitat families and numerous Habitat Regulars, led by Site Leader “Bree” & “Bill”, this turned out to be one of the smoothest and most efficient projects on which I have ever had the pleasure of working.

Over the next few weeks, Realty Austin volunteers will be on site working on the hundreds of tasks that will culminate in the completion of a new home. Besides “House Raising Day” my favorite day on a Habitat for Humanity project is Dedication Day. Austin Habitat for Humanity  Regular Volunteers and other Habitat families gather for a ceremony dedicating the house and the owners receive the keys to their new home! If you have never attended, I would highly recommend this very rewarding event. There is a genuine sense of gratitude by everyone who attends and shares in this uniquely rewarding experience! I want to again add my thanks to Yvette & Jonathan of Realty Austin; all of the Realty Austin Associates who stepped up who were truly committed to making this project a reality! I would also like to thank my very talented assistant, Caitlin Meroney, who produced and edited the film; a huge challenge considering it was shot entirely on my iPhone (conveniently tucked in my nail pouch along side the 16penny framing nails). It’s only a few minutes but you will see from the expressions on everyone’s faces as well as the progress from slab to structure that it was a great experience shared by all and is yet another reason we are living The Good Life in Austin Texas, Enjoy!

My name is Russell Lewis; I have twenty-two years experience assisting buyers and sellers in Austin’s finest neighborhoods. I am not all things to all people and concentrate the majority of my business in Central, West and Southwest Austin, Barton Creek, Bee Cave/Lakeway and the Westlake/Eanes School District. If you or anyone you know is anticipating purchasing or selling real estate and would like to learn more about living The Good Life in Austin Texas I would be happy to be of assistance. Email or call my mobile number for a private consultation at your convenience!