How do you break it to longtime neighbors that you're packing up and moving on? Suzanne Adams, who lives on the aptly named Livingood Lane in Lake Oswego, sent a letter:

"I have to exhale as I write this -- we are moving. I remember when we discovered our home at an open house 30 years ago. My husband went upstairs and I went downstairs. When we met in the middle, we both said at the same time 'I want this house.'"

Not only did Adams want the people on her street to know that she's leaving, but also that her home, where she and her husband, Tom Howe, raised four kids and cared for four grandchildren, would be on the market.

She laid out the benefits of the property:

"We hope to find a wonderful family to buy our home. One that will enjoy the spaciousness (4,000 square feet), the large windows and natural light ... and an upstairs office/bonus room."

She explained that her husband moved his office from downtown Portland to the 1,000-square-foot home office. Not only did this mean he could spend more time with his family but he also avoided paying office rent: "30 years at $4,000 per month office rent = $1.4 million in savings," Adams reports.

The response to her letter? An outpouring of appreciation, says her husband.

People phoned, emailed and stopped by to let Adams know how much her message meant to them, says Howe. Even recipients of the letter that Adams hadn't yet met stopped to talk to her when she was doing yard work in the front of her house at 412 Livingood Lane.

One neighbor mentioned that when most owners leave, it's a mystery. Adams was told: "You hope they're moving on to something better, then the concern becomes, 'I hope they're not in the hospital.'"

Cheryl Edwards, who lives on nearby Cherry Crest Drive, says it's typical to be notified that a family is departing the block by seeing the For Sale sign in the yard. Rarely, she says, does she receive a personal letter in advance.

Although she doesn't think neighbors are owed notice of a property coming on the market, she thinks it's a good idea.

"In a highly competitive market such as our area in Lake Oswego, a letter raises visibility for the seller and gives prospective buyers a heads up," Edwards says, adding that Adams' letter went a step further: It was "heartfelt and touching" and offered "a glimpse of the possibilities this home offers."

When Edwards and her husband bought their house three years ago, the seller's courtesy helped smooth negotiations.

"Our seller warmly walked my husband, Billy, through the landscaping, offering tips to care for the extraordinary work the seller was leaving," says Edwards. "We appreciated his time and hope he thought we'd be good stewards" of the property.

Adams and Howe are hoping for the same smooth transition. The empty-nesters want to downsize and let another family enjoy a series of completed home improvement projects.

Old photos show the three-level house with blue-painted siding. Now, bricks and half-timbering make the custom home look more like a contemporary Tudor.

The front yard of the 8,712-square-foot lot is no longer dominated by a lawn, but water-wise, low-maintenance landscaping. Pine trees and azaleas thrive in weed-resistant bark and there are large boulders and a rock water feature. A gravel, semi-circle path links the driveway to a wide brick front patio where there once was grass.

Inside, original floors in the 1987 house have been replaced with handmade and painted Italian ceramic tiles. Each room has a different pattern.

The remodeled kitchen has quartz counters, white cabinets and a large island. A sunroom was added to the house with five bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Two large decks extend the outdoor living space.

Adams' letter, along with the price and location of the property, led to success. An offer has been accepted and a sale is pending for the property listed at $674,875 by Steve Nassar and Greg Long of Premiere Property Group.

Where to now for Adams and Howe? An urban life on the Willamette River with streetcars, walking paths and kayaks.

Adams' letter ends with:

We will miss [our home] dearly, along with the neighbors, like yourself, and the city of Lake Oswego. Enjoy your time with your family. The time goes by fast!

-- Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



