Daily Inspiration: Meet Jamie Parsons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Parsons.

Hi Jamie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey to Tennessee and The Big Blue House began back in 2008 when my best friend asked me to house hunt with her. We were from Malibu, CA and she was thinking of relocating to Nashville. Having never been there, I jumped at the chance! Her real estate agent gave us a grand tour throughout Nashville and Franklin. When we got to Leipers Fork I said, “I hope you move here, because one day I’m going to live in Leipers Fork.” It was love on the first visit.

Fast forward to 2016, I was finally able to realize my dream, took a huge leap of faith, and bought what is now The Big Blue House. I had an extensive background in real estate and flipping houses, so I jumped in with both feet, creating my “end game”. Back then I couldn’t live in Tennessee full-time, so I used it as a short-term rental to help pay the bills. I had no idea the joy and satisfaction I would feel by sharing my labor of love with guests. I would normally re-do a house, sell it and move on.

But with this one, The Big Blue House, people come back over and over again, even me! I’ve had the complete privilege of hosting families and friends reuniting from all across the country, retreats, and camps, and even had a couple of intimate weddings. It is truly a blessing I never expected.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A smooth road? Does such a thing exist? Haha. Yes, there have been many challenges along the way, I could tell stories for days. One Thanksgiving weekend a house full of guests was preparing their Thanksgiving feast and the oven broke. I’m thinking “Oh no, I’ve ruined their Thanksgiving”. You can imagine finding a repair person on a Wednesday night before Thanksgiving day is next to impossible. But 17 phone calls and plenty of begging later, the oven was fixed.

Another one that popped into my head was after a massive storm and the driveway washed out. I was in LA, jumped on a 5:00 am flight the next morning to meet a repair crew, and miraculously got it regraded and repaired, new gravel and all before the guests checked in at 4:00 pm that day.

Then there was Covid… where every booking for the foreseeable future was canceled. It was a financial struggle for sure, but what happened after a bit of time was some local families were going stir-crazy and wanted some outdoor space. I could provide that. Also, couples who had to cancel their weddings, but didn’t want to postpone their exchange of vows, could have a family-only ceremony at the pond. These beautiful opportunities and lasting relationships emerged that wouldn’t have otherwise. So yes, there have been struggles, but looking back I’m thankful for what they have taught me. Well, most of them at least.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work life is and has been driven by my passion and need for creating things. Whether it be restoring a home, creating an environment where vacationing guests can make lasting memories, to my love of songwriting… I simply love to make things. Since my 20’s I’ve also sold residential real estate, which as a house flipper is the business part of the job. Recently, however, I’ve been working with several buyers looking for farms in Franklin. As a nature and horse lover, the blank slate of gorgeous rolling Tennessee hills, speckled with an old farmhouse and barn or two, not only makes me work all the harder (my next project??), but has allowed me to share some visions and ideas with clients which is fun. Or I’m simply dreaming vicariously through their purchase, lol, but that’s where it all starts right? With a dream.

What sets me apart from others? Probably my nature to be very hands-on, and as trite as it may sound, go the extra mile. I started flipping houses way back in the 90s with no money, so it wasn’t an option NOT to be hands-on. I was painting, designing, digging, shopping, repairing fences, trimming trees, you name it If I could physically do it (and not mess it up) I would. That still holds true today. Whether it’s flipping a house, selling a house, writing a song, or making sure things are as perfect as possible for a guest, there’s not much I won’t do. And I truly love doing it.

So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
Relationships. My relationship with my three kids is a given. They light my whole world up. They have grown into their own little beings, each with their own strengths, desires, weaknesses, and passions. It has undoubtedly been the most satisfying thing ever to watch them grow up and find themselves.

My fiance is another given. I love him for multitudes of reasons. The way loves me, calms me, lets me be me, and even with all my crazy ideas, he believes in me. I also adore the relationships I’ve made with so many guests and clients, and of course with my friends. Then there’s my relationship with God, the center of it all.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.big.blue.house
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigbluehouse.leipersfork

Image Credits
Edmund Barr Photography