01-08-2025
The Grass Isn't Green Anymore. And the Fence is Rickety, Too.
David Viggiano and his partner bought a bungalow on the Far North Side of Chicago a decade ago, and gradually made it their own.
They added a bedroom and a bathroom, finished the basement and tamed the urban jungle outside, brightening the exterior with a rose bush, a mass of lilies and Russian sage.
Even after the couple split up in 2019, with Mr. Viggiano's partner buying out his interest in the property, Mr. Viggiano was a frequent visitor since they remained friends and shared care of their dogs.
'You know,' he said, 'there was just something about that house.'
Then, in 2023, that house was sold.
A while after the new owner moved in, Mr. Viggiano, 61, a media relations director, went by to say his private farewell to the house, a stop that included a visit to his former neighbor's home. What he saw when he looked into his old backyard was upsetting. It was overgrown, and all the plants were dead. 'I don't know how the owner was keeping things inside,' he said. 'But outside was bad.'
As a home closing approaches, some sellers may get a sentimental tug or two about the place they're leaving but, really, just a small tug. When they move out, they move on and don't look back. But plenty of others, while happy to have found a buyer, and eager for their next chapter, still feel an attachment to their former residence.
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