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An Albertan woman is trying to a give a sad story a happy ending through the power of the written word.
After suffering a fall last summer, Alla Wagner was left with damaged vertebrae, making it difficult to get around her 5,000 sq ft luxury estate.
Home-care nurses suggested upgrades to the house to make it easier for her to get around, but Wagner said she didn’t want to take anything away from its character and initially opted to list it.
Despite the home’s beauty, Wagner has struggled to find a buyer for the $1.7-million property and has decided to turn to a more unique method to pass the home onto to new owners.
For a $25 entry fee, 68,000 entrants can write a 350-word essay on why they feel they would be the best new owner.
Of those entries, the most compelling stories will be posted to social media to determine the finalists, which will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges, who will determine the winner and announce the new homeowner.
“It would be a beautiful way for someone not giving up hope. I’m not going to give up hope. I believe that when this contest works, I know it’s going to be well worthwhile.”
A similar contest was run south of the border in 2015 to determine a new owner of a historic inn.
However, it may all be for not, Wagner has stated that if a solid offer is made on the home before the end of January, the contest will be cancelled and all the entry money will be refunded.
For more information on contest details, click here.
With files from the Canadian Press.
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