So, you think the real estate market is slowing down? Think again. It’s as hot as ever — if you have a property that is priced correctly, presented beautifully, and has every amenity under the sun. Our Inwood Home of the Week is a Vickery Place Craftsman that ticks all of those boxes and then some. That’s why 5424 Vickery Boulevard had an offer before it ever hit MLS.
I have been stalking this home for about a week. The moment I spotted it, I thought it was a restored original. I figured there was a great story about the renovation. The list price of $1.049 million also caught my eye. It’s a steal for a home with so many amenities. Imagine my surprise to find this picture-perfect, 3,391-square-foot Vickery Place Craftsman was only built five years ago by Jeff Baron Homes. The reason this looks like an original is because it was a custom build for discerning clients by an excellent builder.
“I think that at first glance it looks like an older home that has been redone,” listing agent Kyle Brinkley, principal broker with the Brinkley Property Group, said. “It fits beautifully into the Vickery Place Conservation District.”
I can tell you firsthand it is no small feat to build a new home that fulfills all the conservation district requirements. I finally gave up trying to deal with the requirements to simply replace my windows. So, hat’s off to Jeff Baron Homes!
“This block is absolutely amazing,” Brinkley said. “It’s a good mix of old and new. There are so many cool things about this house, starting with the foundation. It’s a true pier and beam, which you seldom find in new construction, but it was the owners’ preference.”
The great thing about new, but historically appropriate construction, is that you can enjoy all the charm of an original looking façade and interior details, but you also have every amenity imaginable. This house really has it all.
This four-bedroom, three-bathroom Vickery Place Craftsman has incredible detail, cleverly thought-out nooks and crannies, and that big open living space we all love. There are transom windows above the doorways, balconies, and a great screened porch that all harken back to grandma’s youth. But when it comes to modern amenities, there are tankless water heaters, Trane HVAC, and a kitchen built for a serious chef. There are dual dishwashers and sinks, as well as both a SubZero refrigerator and wine chiller. “It has a Capital range, and the BTU’s are insane,” Brinkley said.
There is also a 431-square-foot guest apartment with a kitchenette and full bath over the garage of this Vickery Place Craftsman! Let’s talk Airbnb income!
The backyard is enormous and includes a beautiful pool designed and installed by Waterscapes.
So, if the house had an offer before it went to MLS you might be thinking, “How on earth did Karen even see this house?” Brinkley chose to go ahead and put it into MLS. Why do Realtors do this? It’s pretty simple. They are serving their sellers’ best interests. When you have a hot property, you want to get the best possible offer. People don’t realize selling a house is an art.
Brinkley brought in stager George Bass to consult on the home and hired one of the best photographers in town, Costa Christ, to ensure this Vickery Place Craftsman was ready for that close-up and for picky buyers. He also priced it correctly.
“You don’t just toss a price out there and see if it will stick,” Brinkley said. It’s not about price per square foot. People get hung up on that. You have to look at the comps, but you also have to be in tune with the market. You have to understand what is being offered, the home’s intangibles, and understand what people will pay for those. You have to price correctly. You cannot recreate this house today at this price.
Not only did the house have a contract before going into MLS, but it also had a backup contract within 24 hours after it listed. It was a done deal in four days. I’m happy to say the early bird did get this Vickery Place Craftsman and will move in just in time for the Christmas holidays!
Karen Eubank is the owner of Eubank Staging and Design. She has been an award-winning professional home stager and writer for over 25 years. Karen teaches the popular Staging to Sell class and is the creator of the online course, The Beginners Guide to Buying Wholesale. Her love of dogs, international travel, history, white paint, champagne, artificial turf, and Tudor and Midcentury Modern homes knows no bounds. Her father was a spy, so she keeps secrets very well! Find Karen at www.eubankstaging.com
