She built a house for roughly $3,000 in 1956. It just sold for what could be millions of dollars

Cristina Spinella, the agent who handled the sale, says there were multiple offers on the house. It was under contract within two weeks of hitting the market.

Deciding it was time to move

Deciding to sell the house wasn’t easy, Keesing said, since it held so many memories for her of her family. Still, she added, it was time.

“I am a practical person, and I accept that there comes a time to move on,” she told Domain. “This next chapter will give me a little more support and will also give more freedom to the family who have cared for me so wonderfully over the years.”

Keesing did say she would miss the garden around the house, as it was her favorite spot. She also discussed the house’s wood-fired stove with some fondness, saying, “The wood-fired stove and oven was often where we gathered for a chat and to keep warm. It was an important feature of our new home, and it heated the water as well.”

Still, moving 70 years’ worth of memories is a challenge. That’s doubly true when you have just three weeks to clear out that paperwork, furniture, mementos and more.

“It was a bit of a nightmare for my family, but they managed it in the end,” she said.

Keesing’s secret to life

Despite her age, Keesing was actively involved in the sale of her home. She offered an online tour of the home on YouTube. She was determined to sign the contract herself, said Spinella. And she was confident that when the sale was concluded, she would be a multi-millionaire.