Nikki Barringer: Back in March I wrote about this cute little traditional house in Lavon that’s not sooooo traditional. I love this house and this story because it shows what can happen with a little vision and some serious carpentry skills.
Tucked neatly in the story is also the fact that with the right Realtor, there’s a huge opportunity to see something that you might be missing. And that something is potential, people. Hop in the Daltxrealestate.com Time Machine and let’s travel back to the glory that is 540 Orchard Drive. And I’m going to be really honest with you right now, not making Orchard a “Lane” instead of a “Drive” was a real miss on the developer’s end. Lanes are charming!
This house had multiple offers when the weekend just barely began. It’s located in Lavon. Where’s that now? Lavon. It’s a suburb about 45 minutes northeast of Dallas. When the current owners bought it they were looking for reasonably priced newer construction, and that’s exactly what Lavon offered.
The story here isn’t about multiple offers or how hot the market is or the fact that with little inventory and the flexibility to work from home, the “city” is spreading. I say “city” because Joanna England, our dear editor, dreads the word “Metroplex.” (Editor’s Note: She’s not wrong. It’s a filthy portmanteau.)
Annnnnyway, the story here is about a young couple that had a vision. What most buyers saw was a traditional, new construction home with a great floor plan. But this couple saw an opportunity to take it to a modern place with a few custom additions.
Updates That Elevate
Ebby Halliday’s Janine Bayer said he’s a nurse and she’s a teacher, but on the weekend they’re full Chip & Jo. They got to work and added wood accent walls themselves. They even made the utility room stunning. There’s an incredible wood art triptych in the hallway that they also created.
This is the most fantastic example of transforming a home. In today’s tight market, everyone wants the Midcentury Modern or the 1920s Tudor or the statement house. But with a few updates, your dream home might come in a slightly different package.
Bayer said these two are so creative they really need to have their own business. I’m not going to argue. She also said it’s not the first time she’s worked with clients that have reworked a home. In this case, they knew what to do, but with another set of clients, Bayer helped guide them. As they toured one home in West Plano, they were like, “PASS.” But Bayer said, hold up. What if you removed this wall, redid this, and added this, this, and this? With her eye, they were able to see the potential and you know what? They bought it. The home needed a little work, but the lot was fabulous with a huge pool and yard. And now? It’s all fabulous and they couldn’t be happier.
So, that, my friends is the story here. Have an open mind. You just never know where your dream home might be hiding.
The house with a handmade heart of gold at 540 Orchard Drive was listed for $389,000.
