JWH Netherlands Journal Vol.11　The Real Value of a €680,000 HomeWhat I Only Discovered After Living Here.

You never truly know a house until you live in it.

Before buying a property, you think you've seen everything.

The floor plan.

The location.

The renovation history.

The neighborhood.

The view from the windows.

You compare numbers and imagine your future there.

But the truth is...

The real value of a home only reveals itself after you start living in it.

Since moving into this 19th-century building in Delft with our family, we've discovered things no inspection report could ever tell us.

What surprised us—in the best way

The biggest success was undoubtedly the living and dining room we created by removing a wall.

Every morning we wake up to Delft's historic Market Square.

Morning.

Afternoon.

Sunset.

Night.

The atmosphere changes constantly.

Even after months, we still find ourselves looking outside.

Another surprise was something we never expected:

The airflow.

Old houses are often criticized for poor insulation.

Ironically, this one breathes beautifully.

Open the windows, and a gentle breeze flows naturally through the house.

No floor plan could have shown us that.

Not everything is perfect

Of course, old houses have imperfections.

Doors don't close perfectly.

Walls aren't perfectly straight.

Floors have scratches collected over generations.

If this were a new house...

We'd probably call them defects.

But here...

They somehow become part of the story.

Instead of asking,

"How do we make it look brand new?"

We often find ourselves saying,

"That's part of its character."

Yes... the stairs really are dangerous.

Anyone familiar with old Dutch houses knows this.

The staircases are incredibly steep.

Before buying the house, we knew that.

One of our younger children had already fallen once, which led us to install additional handrails.

Then...

A few days ago...

I slipped.

Completely.

I ended up with some rather impressive bruises.

Apparently,

the stairs were steeper than I thought...

and perhaps I wasn't quite as young as I used to be.

Lesson learned.

Old houses deserve to keep their history.

But safety should always move forward.

Every repair makes us love this home a little more

Living here means there's always something to improve.

Installing a shower.

Replacing floors.

Painting.

Adding handrails.

Adjusting doors.

The work never really ends.

Surprisingly...

We don't mind.

Every repair teaches us something about the house.

Every improvement makes it feel more like ours.

And honestly...

After every project, I quietly think,

"The property's value probably increased a little today."

Lifestyle improves.

Attachment grows.

Investment value rises.

Those three things happen together.

The best decision we made

In the end...

The greatest success wasn't buying the house.

It was creating this living space.

Without anyone planning it...

Our family naturally gathers here.

Someone is cooking.

Someone is studying.

Children are playing.

Outside the windows...

Delft continues its daily rhythm.

Inside...

Our family shares ours.

At that moment...

I knew.

Buying this house was the right decision.

A home's value can't be measured by numbers alone

Real estate is often judged by numbers.

Purchase price.

Rental income.

Return on investment.

Market value.

Those numbers matter.

Very much.

But after living here...

I've realized there are values spreadsheets cannot calculate.

The view.

The breeze.

The memories.

Watching our children grow.

Creating something together.

A home isn't simply something you buy.

It's something you continue building with your family.

But numbers still matter.

Here's something I strongly believe.

A home's value cannot be measured by numbers alone.

But...

Ignoring the numbers is equally dangerous.

Beautiful views.

Wonderful family memories.

A fulfilling lifestyle.

Those things are priceless.

Yet if the purchase price, maintenance costs, rental income, and long-term value don't make financial sense...

The home can become a burden instead of an asset.

For me...

A truly successful property achieves both.

A home that makes your family happier.

And a home that also makes financial sense.

That's exactly what I hope to build through Japan Working Home™.

Where Lifestyle and Investment grow together.

Next Time...

A Sudden Email Changed Everything.

Our Ground Floor Tenant Gave Notice.

What Happens Next?

While writing this journal...

An unexpected email arrived.

Our ground-floor commercial tenant informed us that they intended to terminate the lease.

According to my understanding of the contract, the lease should have automatically renewed.

Apparently...

Things weren't quite that simple.

Should we find another tenant?

Turn it into a café?

Create a community space?

Or something completely different?

Real estate rarely follows the plan.

Sometimes...

Unexpected problems create unexpected opportunities.

See you in JWH Netherlands Journal Vol.12.