Man renovating home finds amusing 1989 note from previous homeowner — turns out he's not alone

Houses hold a lot of history — the laughter of an old couple, the cheers of young parents seeing their baby walk for the first time, the happiness of a teenager when they get chosen by their desired university, and more. Most of us buy houses that were once home to others, which means, there are thousands of unknown anecdotes that every inch and corner holds. u/humblemandudebroguy revealed one such tale on his Reddit post, where the previous owners left him an unexpected note.

On May 15, 2025, u/humblemandudebroguy posted a picture of a note that he found in his house dated August 6, 1989. His caption reveals, “Found this in the wall while ripping out drywall. I decided to remodel my downstairs, and while I was ripping out drywall, I found this note dated 1989.” The note is covered in dust, has torn edges, and looks tinged, but delivers its message in the most heartfelt yet humorous way. It reads: “Today, my mother and I are hanging the drywall for this. I personally hope that it's as much of a pain for you to tear this apart as it was for us making it. Have a nice day!”

This got one of the viewers on the post, u/aaronwcampbell, to share how he had done the same thing. "I'm sorry, I don't really know what I'm doing, but I can't afford to hire someone either. Sorry, it didn't work out; best of luck," he wrote on a note for the next homeowner. "I'm pretty proud of this. My friend [and I] agree and have both slapped it and said, ‘That'll hold’! So, I'm confident you're here for some other problem." He added, “Drawings are fun, too, or little artifacts. Like putting a pair of glasses in one void and then writing, ‘Where are my glasses?’ a void or two away. Don't forget to always put the date, of course.”

Newsweek shared a similar incident that occurred with Anna Benson when she bought her first house. She posted a video on her TikTok account revealing the details of the incident. The previous homeowner left her a few suggestions on how to use the ice maker as well as how to utilize the extra space in the house. She found another note between pieces of wood that read, "These planks are useful when a person needs to be on the metal screen porch roof. They distribute a person's weight across a large area."

u/kleinklone also shared a similar situation in the Reddit post’s comments, “I've done five projects in my house where I have hidden notes in the construction — three bathrooms, the third-floor deck, and the kitchen. I lived in the same house for 45 years, so I don't expect any of the projects to be redone in the next 30 [years] or so, at least.” u/crackersucker2 replied in solidarity, revealing what they left for the next person who lives in their home, "A few masks too, with a news article during Covid.”

u/InstructionTop4805 highlighted the positive side of the situation by writing, “So honest and wonderful. Your house has history and people who cared for it," while u/Oktodayithink advised, “You can track down who lived there in 1986 if you’re curious. I do this for a living, so if you want tips, I can explain.” Finally, u/STABO1217 suggested, “I'd frame it and hang it on the new drywall once it's done. But don't forget to leave a note of your own inside the wall.”