The Brownstone Detectives’ stock-in-trade is our House History Book.

We take pride in the research behind – and the building of – each House History Book. Each is a bespoke historical document vividly detailing the specific record of your home and the people who once lived there.

When you commission us to create your House History Book, we will embark upon an exhaustive investigation through the archives of city agencies and historical societies, review census records and newspaper archives, and conduct searches wherever our clues lead in order to uncover the materials and records specifically related to the lineage of your home and its former owners.

We are pretty picky people…but (their) dedication and obsessive level of detail blew us away. I am humbled to own this gorgeous piece of historical non-fiction.” – 231 Cumberland Street, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

OUR HOUSE HISTORY BOOKS
We offer two discrete variations of House History Book to fit the budgets and the preferences of any homeowners. Both are bespoke, professionally crafted products – beautiful keepsakes to be proudly displayed on the coffee table of any historic home.

PRESENTATION HOUSE HISTORY BOOK – $2175Our Presentation House History Book covers the complete discoverable history of your house from the day construction began to the present day and consists of 40-60 pages of narrative and graphics. Each is laid out and bound in a durable, hardback, 8½” X 11″ portrait orientation format featuring a “wraparound” cover graphic.

Our Presentation House History Book takes 2-3 months of extensive historical investigation, writing, and lay-out to produce the final bespoke story of your unique home. Each House History Book is fully supported with endnotes documenting our sources.

At your request, we will also investigate the history of the land that your house was built upon, starting with the day construction began on your house and going back to the arrival of the Dutch in the 1600s. This additional research increases the size of your book by 15-20 pages for an added $775.

I cannot think of a more meaningful purchase to commemorate our new home, and the book is truly a treasure that we will enjoy sharing with friends and family for many years to come.” – 101 Hancock Street, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn

COFFEE TABLE HOUSE HISTORY BOOK – $9750Our Coffee Table House History Book covers the complete history of your land + home starting with its construction and running to the present day, and starts at 50 pages. Each is professionally laid out by our award-winning graphic designer and is library-bound and published in a durable, hardback, 11″ X 13″ landscape orientation format.

Every Coffee Table House History Book features our illustrator’s detailed rendering of your home on its singularly designed cover. Each is fully supported with endnotes documenting our sources.

The research, writing, layout, and production of a Coffee Table House History Book generally takes between 1½ to 2 years of exacting attention to detail. This process culminates in a final product that will complement and add value to your home. Lastly, our Coffee Table House History Books are customizable in their content, allowing for the homeowner to select from a list of research parameters related to the history of their property.

(Click HERE to see excerpts from the inside of some of our House History Books.)

OUR PROMISE

We will work with you to determine the House History Book that satisfies your wishes and fits within your budget, and we will produce a House History Book for your home that will surpass your expectations and which you will be proud to display in your home.

Contact us today with your home address to discuss creating a House History Book of your own.