By Judy Szablak
Special to WestportNow
Decor makes all the difference when selling your Westport home.
Featured Home: This waterfront home at 391 Riverside Ave. is listed at $1,738,000. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Westport
As much as one would like to think that it doesn’t, or shouldn’t matter, it does; and affects the ultimate purchase price.
When a home has too many furnishings and/or excessive tchotchke or personal effects, rooms can be hard to visualize for buyers. Room sizes appear smaller, and visitors can get caught up noticing the items that are “in” the house, as opposed to the home itself.
If a home has outdated décor, not only does that also make a home difficult to envision as one’s own, it can also send a subliminal message that the home may not have been well maintained.
Homes without any furniture at all can be viewed two different ways. On the positive side, it can be a “blank slate,” or a home that can offer quick occupancy.
On the not so positive side, it is much more difficult to evoke emotion with an empty house, especially if it has uniquely shaped spaces. Buyers need that emotional connection.
The majority of homes on the market have been staged to some extent, whether it’s simply because the owner has an eye for decorating, their agent has suggested some changes to assist marketability, a stager has been called in for assistance, or a combination of all three.
Market Stats
There are now 352 homes that are actively on the market, which have been listed for an average of 123 days, with a cumulative market time of 206 days. The average list price is now $2,151,488 and the median price is now at $1,612,500.
A home on Beachside Avenue is the highest priced property for sale at $22.5 million, and the lowest available priced single family is a four bedroom home on Saugatuck Avenue for $299,000.
Nineteen new listings came on the market in the last seven days, and one property came back on the market after being under deposit, or temporarily withdrawn. Twenty properties had a price change.
Eight properties have gone under the initial deposit stage, which we call CTS or Show, and 13 properties went into pending status, which means that the conditions have been satisfied, and the property is scheduled to close.
The average price of those 13 pending properties was $1,245,923. There are currently 23 homes in CTS/Show status throughout Westport, and another 61 properties scheduled to close townwide, with an average price of $1,543,539.
Closings: There were 20 single family homes reported as sold in the last week, and they were listed on average at $1,741,640 with an average market time of 109 days. There were 99 status changes in the last seven days.
Condos: There are 19 condominiums that are available, and they have been listed an average of 88 days, with an average cumulative market time of 117 days. Their average listing price is $602,465 and the median price is $515,000.
The highest priced condo in town is listed at $1,150,000 and is a three bedroom home located at Terra Nova Circle, and the lowest priced unit for sale is a two bedroom home on Bridge Street for $234,933.
There was one new listing in the last seven days, and no properties came back on the market. One property had a price change, and no homes took an initial deposit. No homes entered into pending status.
There are no properties townwide that are currently in CTS/Show status, and one property is currently scheduled to close which is listed at $819,000.
Two sales were reported during the last week, and were listed on average at $674,000. There were two status changes.
Rentals: If you are interested in renting year round, either furnished or unfurnished, there are 80 homes or apartments available. The median price is $5,188 per month and the average price is $6,971 per month. These year round rental opportunities have been on the market an average of 63 days.
There are 63 short-term rental opportunities that are available, and they have been on the market an average of 94 days. Their average price is $13,029 and the median price is $10,000. Please note that seasonal rental prices are sometimes listed as an aggregate price for the season, or they can be listed as per the monthly rental cost.
Source — Market data is compiled from the SmartMLS and represents activity through our statewide MLS system. Private sales are not included in these statistics.
Featured Home
This waterfront home at 391 Riverside Ave. is listed at $1,738,000.
This Nantucket shingle style 11-room colonial has 65 feet of frontage on the Saugatuck River and exceptional architectural details throughout its four superbly conceived levels.
Designed by well known and highly respected local architect Peter Cadoux and completed by Verdi Construction in 2006, this 4,842-square foot home is flawless in both design and construction.
Brimming with positive energy and Smart Home technology throughout, the open and wonderfully flowing floor plan is quite versatile, and adheres to the principles of feng shui.
Each of the main level living areas takes advantage of outstanding unobstructed views of the Saugatuck River, and an abundance of natural light is evident throughout the entire home.
Nine-foot ceilings on the first floor enhance the home’s elegance and the main level living areas are open to each other.
The living room has a layered tray ceiling and specialty millwork, including built in shelving and cabinetry on either side of the fireplace. Transom topped French doors lead out to a covered semicircular Brazilian Ipe wood deck with mahogany railings.
A custom gourmet kitchen has top of the line stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and a large walk in pantry. The handsomely designed service island seats three comfortably and is open to the more formal dining area.
The perfectly located tower stairwell is an architectural treat with a hint of nautical flavor, and the gently flowing copper “water wall,” adds to the peace and tranquillity of this exceptional home.
All four bedrooms are en suite, and the stunning master bedroom suite features beautiful waterviews, and has coffered ceilings, a fireplace, and sitting area.
Dual closets have cherry built-ins, and a luxurious marble bath with radiant heated flooring has a Bain jetted tub, steam shower with multiple jets, and separate water closet.
The uppermost level includes one of the en suite bedrooms, the office and private balcony with outdoor hot tub, and a Zen/meditation room which one could also use as a large storage or walk-in closet.
A finished walkout garden level with high ceilings includes a family room with stone fireplace, and a gathering/exercise/play room with full bath. A kitchenette along the hallway to the theater has a sink and fridge, and all can easily be configured to create an au pair quarters or nanny suite if so desired.
An acoustically engineered in-home theater also on this level includes a calibrated Sony 3D projector and 7.1 surround sound system, 110-inch screen and tiered seating for eight.
Extras and items to note — four to five bedrooms, five and one-half baths, three fireplaces, security system, Crestron lighting and sound controls, automated shades, built-in speakers on all four levels, central vacuum, public water and sewer, seven-zone hydro air heating and cooling system, heated and air-conditioned garage, highlighted in Westport Magazine, 25KW generator, not in AE zone
Annual taxes are $21,731.
Listing/photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Westport.
(Editor’s Note: Judy Szablak of Coldwell Banker Westport — Riverside, Fairfield County CT Realtor since 1984 is author of “The Art of Buying or Selling a Home,” and featured on HGTV’s real estate show, “Desperate to Buy.” Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit her online at http://www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com.
