MOVING STORY - The Hagan Family
Kate Hagan is a Nashville native. In a city that welcomes approximately 80 transplants a day, it's rare to meet someone with roots as deep as hers. Before World War II, Kate's grandfather built a home in south Nashville. Back then, the area was farmland and dirt roads. Kate's father still owns the house, but a lot has changed since then. Green Hills is now a busy, high-end retail district, and people pay top dollar to live there.
Jackson at the Nashville house his great-grandfather built.
Kate spent her school years in Franklin, TN, benefitting from the highly-rated Williamson County school system. She witnessed the rapid growth of Cool Springs and the renovation of downtown Franklin. She remembers Franklin as "a ghost town without much to do." The theatre had closed, and only a few shops were open—nothing for her age group to enjoy. The Heritage Foundation and the Downtown Franklin Association changed all that. Kate watched Franklin be restored to its former glory, starting with the historic facades. Starbucks and Mellow Mushroom opened, followed by a string of local boutiques. Kate began dreaming of owning her own storefront.
After graduating from Franklin High School, Kate moved to Bowling Green, KY, where she met her husband, Brandon. They moved back to Franklin and in 2011 Brandon started a business with his friend John Bond. Twine Graphics had humble beginnings in John's backyard shed. But by 2012, the company had expanded to a rental space off Columbia Ave. Kate and Brandon's family had also grown, so in 2014 they decided it was time to purchase their first home.
Brandon wanted to stay in Franklin, keeping his commute to work under ten minutes. Kate ran a home daycare business and wanted a single-story home for convenience. They looked at older ranches but discovered they needed a great deal of work, and between two businesses and a baby, they didn't have time for a renovation. At that time, finding a house in Franklin that wasn't under contract in 24 hours felt "next to impossible." In the end, they purchased a home in Franklin Green. It met Brandon's location criteria, but Kate found herself in a two-story house chasing littles up and down the stairs. Although it wasn't their dream home, they enjoyed the neighborhood. The people were friendly, and it had a community pool. The housing market continued to surge, and a year and a half later, they found themselves with a lot of equity.
They decided to take that equity and build a home that better fit their needs. Kate followed in her grandfather's footsteps, choosing to build in Thompsons Station, a small town with country views. Brandon agreed to the longer commute (20 mins) once he saw what they could get with their money. They also loved that Thompson Station is located to major highways and shopping areas, and zoned for Williamson County schools.
Kate and Brandon have planted roots in Thompsons Station, and don't see themselves moving again for a long time. But Twine Graphics continues to grow. Today it operates out of a 6,000 square foot facility near The Factory. Here they can print up to 6,000 shirts a day, producing spirit wear for the local schools, and merchandise for local businesses and online boutiques. In 2017, Twine opened a storefront on the square in downtown Franklin. The retail store represents a small portion of what Twine Graphics does, but Brandon and John love the freedom to create their own t-shirt designs. Their Franklin and Nashville aspired apparel are a hit with locals and tourists.
Like many Nashville natives, Kate welcomes growth and enjoys meeting people from other states—she married a transplant after all! Today, she sees a more diverse city that still has loads of potential. "In my opinion, growth is never a bad thing. If you're not growing, then what are you doing?"
Kate's advice for current homebuyers:
1) Tennessee summers are real.
If you're moving to Tennessee, don't underestimate the bugs and humidity. A screened-in porch, or a ceiling fan, and a neighborhood pool are things to consider. You might regret not having them later.
2) Nashville real estate moves fast.
If you're a first-time homebuyer or need a specific location, you might need to jump on something that's not perfect. It's OK that your first house isn't your dream home. Grow your equity for the next home.
3) Think about the future.
If you're building a home, thinking about what life will look like in 5 to 10 years. When Brandon and Kate built their house, they put the playroom next to the kitchen. This worked great for Kate's home daycare, but that business is over now, and her son is "older and louder." She wishes they had added the second-floor bonus room to give him more space and her more peace. An additional room might not be in your budget, but smaller things like tiling the master shower can easily be rolled into a mortgage. If you think you'll want it later, and you can afford it, do it now.
Check out Kate's new business venture—Hot Mess Home Organization. Kate credits her superpower to the years she managed a home daycare. During that time, she created systems to make her home run smoothly, and now she's sharing that wisdom with others. From decluttering to packing and unpacking services, Kate makes your moving process smooth and sets you and your house up for success. Contact her today for all your organizing needs!
