How Hosting an Exchange Student Turned Our New House Into a True Home

How Hosting an Exchange Student Turned Our New House Into a True Home

We completed our new construction home in May of 2024. The excitement of moving in quickly gave way to the chaos of settling — boxes on boxes to unpack, unfinished projects, so much new construction dust continuously settling, TVs still waiting to be mounted. It felt like a work in progress, not quite lived in yet. 

Then, just six weeks after getting occupancy for our home, an undeniable thought settled in: we needed to host an exchange student. Not next year or down the road. This year. It took a little (okay, a lot) of convincing to get my husband on board, but when we told our three children, their excitement completely sealed the deal. They started telling everyone they were getting a big brother from Denmark and we all began looking forward to August, when our student would arrive.

When we opened our home to Oliver from Denmark, we expected to share meals, learn about another culture, and show him around our little corner of Washington. What we didn’t expect was how quickly he’d become a true part of our family — and how much the experience would teach us about what “home” really means.

From the very first week, we watched our family turn from 5 to 6. Our daily routines shifted in the best way.
Meals lasted longer.
Conversations grew deeper.
Our perspectives widened.

We laughed through language mix-ups, navigated a few American urgent care visits, celebrated holidays together, and created memories we’ll carry for life. What started as a cultural exchange became something much more lasting — a bond built on love, trust, and shared experience.

As the months went by, we realized something:
Our home wasn’t just a brand-new house with a roof and walls (along with a whole lot of dirt and no lawn yet).
It was a space we could open — a place where someone from across the world could feel welcomed, safe, and loved.

Your Home Has More to Offer Than You Think

In real estate, we often focus on the number of bedrooms, the square footage, the backyard. But the true value of a home is found in the life it holds — the moments shared, the memories made, and the people who walk through the front door.

It's the dinners around the table, the quiet bedtime talks, and the laughter from a room you once thought of as a completely different use.

 It’s how a space transforms when you choose to open it — and yourself — to someone else.

Hosting Oliver reminded us that love, warmth, and community aren’t just things you feel — they’re things you can create and share. And those are exactly the stories that make a house feel like home.

Thinking of Hosting or Selling? Start With Heart.

Whether you’re thinking about welcoming an exchange student or preparing to sell your home, remember this:
The most valuable thing you offer isn’t the quartz countertops or the view — it’s the life you’ve lived in your home and the potential it holds for someone new.

If you’re ever unsure of what your home has to offer, just look around. Look at the love it’s held, the memories it’s created, and the welcome it could extend the next owner.

Because every home — including yours — has the power to change lives.🧡

Want to talk about what your home might mean to the next family, or how to find one that fits your next chapter? I’m here when you’re ready.

Blair Donovan
blair@larsoncollective.com