Think of it as a baby book for your home that stays with the home. It is a personal history -- created by those who live in the home -- that residents and visitors can look to for information about the home's life. Your house's story -- its Houstory® -- can include information about former and current residents, building and construction history, interesting and noteworthy news and events that take place in the home, photographs, renovations and information about visitors and guests. All are part of a Home History Book archival journal.

What makes it even more unique: The book belongs to the home. This is key. Unlike a family photo album or personal scrapbook, with a Home History Book archival journal you chronicle and share your family's story and enjoy the book while you live in the house and then pass it on to those who follow you. It is a treasured gift you receive from those who came before you and one you share with those who follow.

We know how you feel. Your book will be full of wonderful stories and photographs, and it may be hard to leave them behind. But the true value of a Home History Book archival journal is that you are creating and recording a written history of your home and your life in the home for future generations. Sadly, if you don't pass it on, it is a story that will likely be lost forever.

Still, you may find that leaving behind such wonderful memories is difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of options. One is to buy a personal copy that you complete alongside the original that you can take with you should you move. To make it easier to leave the book with the home, we offer a 25 percent discount on the purchase of a companion book to the owners of homes that already have a registered copy.

Additionally, there are private companies that specialize in safely copying bound books using advanced scanning and digital photography. For a modest fee, these companies can duplicate the contents of your book and provide you with a digitized version that you can print out or otherwise keep and share.

Learning about your home's past and about those from earlier times who wandered the same hallways and enjoyed life from behind the very windows you now look through is not just fun and interesting, it adds a richness and meaning to your own experience. It creates a connection that transcends time (if your home is new, you are living that history every day and are an invaluable source of information for future residents). Knowing your home's history and sharing it can also create a sense of community within your neighborhood, town and city, inspiring historical preservation awareness.

From a purely financial point of view, historic preservation can help to increase property value, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A Home History Book archival journal, with your home's story well-documented, carefully protected and beautifully displayed, can be a strong selling tool when showing your home to potential buyers. The pride you take in your home will be evident through the pages of the book.

Perhaps most importantly, though, it affords you a great opportunity to share your own story in the home -- a story that will largely be lost if you don't record it -- with future generations. Your story, your history -- told by you -- will be an invaluable legacy to those who follow.

In fact, you are the perfect candidate for a Home History Book archival journal. Unlike owners who move into a 150-year-old home, for example, you have been there from the beginning and can provide a complete history. You -- unlike anyone else -- are in the perfect position to provide all of the information about your home's early history with little or no research. You may have photos of your home during construction, before the landscaping was installed, of moving day or the first night you spent in your new home. These photos and stories will provide a wonderful and unique historical record for both visitors and residents in your home today and in the future.

In the end, a home history is of little value if you are not able to protect and share it. With a Home History Book archival journal, your information is safely stored in an engaging and attractive format that allows for quick and easy access to the home history research you've compiled. Additionally, a Home History Book archival journal protects your information in archival-quality materials that will protect and preserve your historical records longer and more safely than envelopes, folders and shoeboxes alone.

Yes. Please contact Houstory Publishing for details.

We want you to be pleased with your Home History Book archival journal. (After all, you're going to be together for a long time.) We ask that you please treat the book with kindness and not mark the book or alter it in any way before you are certain you want to keep it. Unfortunately, once it's marked or otherwise altered, it can't be returned.

Unmarked books that remain in "new" condition can be returned for a full refund within the first 30 days. (We're sorry, but we do not cover return shipping expenses.) Please keep your packing materials, product inserts and archival box safe as well as these must also be returned in the condition received to obtain a refund.

To return a book, please contact Houstory Publishing for instructions.

The book is printed on heavy-duty, acid- and lignin-free, archival quality paper. After printing, the book blocks are sent to our carefully selected binders where each book is handcrafted by a skilled craftsmen using centuries-old, time-tested bookbinding techniques. Finally, we attach a heavy-duty, solid brass nameplate, custom-engraved with your home's address.

Your Home History Book archival journal was proudly printed and hand-bound in the United States of America by American-based artisans on recycled, Forest Stewardship Council®- and Green Seal™-certified paper. Please see our "Making of a Home History Book" page for more information.

From the start, we have worked hard to ensure that everything about the book -- from the quality of materials used to make it to the design of the pages to the suggested ideas and techniques for adding content -- will stand the test of time. To do this, we studied the bookbinding industry to see what has been the most durable way of doing things: Solid, careful construction using archival-quality, durable, high-end materials; a simple, clean design; uncomplicated, clear text; and the use of a highly adaptable "technology" immune to being rendered obsolete by changing times -- in other words, pen, paper and pictures.

In short, we believe we have done everything we reasonably can to ensure the book will be a lasting legacy, a cherished heirloom, to be enjoyed for generations to come.

We believe our commitment to permanence will be readily apparent the first time you hold your Home History Book archival journal. As long as you take care of your book and adhere to the suggestions of professional archivists about using archival-quality materials to fill in your book (for example, archival-quality photo sleeves, acid-free pens and adhesives) you should be confident your book will be around to tell your story and that of your home for generations to come.

Do you remember 8-Track tapes? How about vinyl records and cassettes? Floppy disks, VHS tapes and even non-digital cameras? One thing is for certain: today's cutting edge technology -- thumb drives, MP3 players, DVDs -- will, like all of the above, be quaint but obsolete relics in a generation or less. And as communication technologies fade, so does the equipment necessary to access the data they contain. Sadly, if you don't keep up in converting your old data to the latest storage medium, you risk losing access to it (or at least easy, inexpensive access). Have you tried playing an 8-track tape lately?

We have intentionally kept things simple. Instead of computer keyboards and electrons we've chosen paper and pen, two technologies that should be as accessible in the 24th Century as they are today.

Physically storing historical information -- as opposed to saving it in an unstable, technology-driven format that may crash -- is both a safer and less expensive route for homeowners in the long run; your book will work as well generations from now as it does today. (Upgrades not required!)

Additionally, it also comes down to appeal. Compared to keeping your laptop on the coffee table and sharing your Houstory® with guests and friends via the glow of a sterile computer screen, the Home History Book archival journal is a much more personal, intimate, and socially engaging means of conveying your home's story. Whether it's a dinner party, holiday, a family reunion or friendly visit, a beautifully displayed Home History Book archival journal is sure to be a ready conversation piece. No booting up or plugging in required.

That's not to say technology doesn't have a place in conveying your houstory. Future plans include the creation of message boards/discussion groups where the houstorian community can more informally share information and hints about home research, ask questions and display interesting photos and stories they may have discovered while researching their home's history.

Home History Book archival journals are tough and can face the rigors of coffee table life, but -- much like the precious historical documents they protect -- they need to be properly cared for. It's important to keep your book in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The high humidity in a garage, attic or basement can promote mold growth, cockling (rippling), or wrinkle pages and attract insects. Extremely low humidity, as found above hot radiators or heater vents, can dry out bindings. Direct sun-light, with a large ultraviolet (UV) component, can also have an adverse impact.

Despite popular beliefs, treating the leather-bound "Premier" book with leather oil is actually not a good idea. Rather, following the advice above -- plus handling the book on a regular basis -- will help to preserve the leather. The natural oils in your skin will help to keep the book in good shape. Keep in mind that storing it away for prolonged periods can actually diminish the integrity of the leather covering.

Some specifics below...

Home History Book Premier: Keep your book out of direct sunlight, as this may fade the leather. Your journal should be kept in a dry, well-ventilated area; dampness will encourage mold and possible warping. Avoid excessive heat, which will dry the natural oils in the leather. Handling your book is a plus, as the natural oils from your skin will augment those in the leather.

Home History Book Deluxe: Simply keeping your book dry and free of dust should be all that is required. If you do need to clean the material, slightly dampen a soft cloth with warm water, and wipe the front and back covers. When finished, wipe dry to remove any moisture.

The Certificate of Authenticity and the unique Book Registration Number included at the back of the book ensure that your book is an authentic Home History Book™ archival journal, printed and hand-bound by highly skilled artisans in accordance with the demanding, archival-quality standards established by Houstory Publishing, LLC, the originator of home history archival journals.

Additionally, the registration number will be linked to your home forever. If you ever have questions or concerns, your book is logged in our permanent registry. No additional action is required.

Finally, should you want a second book to take with you, your registration number also entitles you or a future owner to a substantial discount on the purchase of a Home History Book archival journal companion book.

The Houstorian Research and Preservation Center is a clearinghouse for home genealogy and preservation tips, and includes information on how to research all elements of your property's history, including the acquisition of photos, documents and early information about the property. We also sell books and other resources specifically written for those interested in home history research in The Marketplace. Additionally, if you need some extra assistance, you can hire home historians through the site, as well as professional photographers who can help you capture the visual story of your home.

That is entirely up to you. The book is designed to be flexible and accommodate you. It is your choice, for example, whether you update it monthly, annually, every five years or every 10 years. Obviously, the more effort you put into your book, the more interesting or useful it may be. But even taking a few photos of your home and neighborhood and listing who is living in the home every five or 10 years will provide future residents with an invaluable Houstory that would otherwise likely be lost forever.

The degree of difficulty really depends on how involved you want to get. For example, newer home records, such as lists of past owners, dates of ownership and purchase prices, are easy to obtain and can often be found in a single afternoon.

If you're like many homeowners, however, you'll find that tracking down your home's history and the hidden stories of its past residents is great fun and a wonderful challenge. Our Web site (www.homehistorybook.com) is full of home genealogy information, and lists of resources (including professional home historians and home photographers for hire) to help you on your way.

Of course, you are under no obligation to research any of your home's past. Such information is really just a bonus. We think the most valuable part of a book is the history you are creating and recording today. Your stories -- which you, of course, can tell the best and usually require no special research -- are those that are likely to be the most interesting and valuable to future residents.