Most home sellers and Realtors would agree that an empty house can be a tough sell. But buyers often look at it differently: At least the absence of furnishings means that what they see is what they get.
In the case of this 3-year-old house at 1308 E. Gartner in Naperville, which was open for viewing last weekend, the emptiness only serves to accentuate the home`s strong points, including the quality of its
construction, the quality of its floor coverings and the benefit of several features left behind for new owners. It`s listed for sale at $299,900.
To be sure, there are a few nail holes, a few marks on the walls and some furniture indentations in the carpeting, but these would likely be covered by the new owner`s pictures and furniture.
Starting in the large, two-story foyer, the bareness immediately shows off the four matching chandeliers within eye-shot of the front door: one hanging down into the foyer from the second floor, two in the hallways and one in the dining room, to the right of the entry.
There is also a custom-built decorative fabric cornice that has been cut to match the curve of the arched windows in both the 14-by-13-foot dining room and the 18-by-13-foot living room. Both rooms also have custom crown molding. The 13-by-13 den also has crown molding, and a single closet that would allow it to be used as a fifth bedroom. It is plushly carpeted in dark beige. Left behind in the kitchen are a built-in microwave and oven and a Jenn-Aire cooking island. Quarry tile flooring complements an abundance of quality cabinetry, including a pantry and a planning desk with cubby holes.
A step down from the hallway is a mudroom area off the garage, with a double-wide closet; a bit farther back on that same level is a utility room.
A step down from the kitchen is a magnificent family room, lit by skylights atop the beamed cathedral ceiling and two sets of atrium doors, in an L-shape, that lead to the deck. The family room is large, at 20 by 15 feet, and has a wet bar off in the corner. The two-story brick fireplace has a gas starter and oak mantel.
Up the turned staircase are the four bedrooms, which are just off a U-shaped hall that overlooks the entry (the Palladian window in the front of the house is at eye-level from the upstairs).
Again, the emptiness shows off a sweep of good-quality plush carpeting. The carpeting is neutral in the hall and master suite (which seems endlessly huge from this vantage point), pine green in the 13-by-10 bedroom, mauve in the 17-by-11 bedroom and blue in the 14-by-13 bedroom, which has a window seat.
The master suite fills almost half of the upstairs level. It includes the 17-by-16 bedroom with a trayed ceiling, the hallway between the bedroom and bath that serves as a dressing area, the bath area with a whirlpool and double sinks, and a separate fourth area for the toilet and extra-wide shower stall. The listing agent on this home is Tim Baker of Re/Max Affiliates in Naperville. His daughter Amy was on hand for last Saturday`s open house, but as a high school student, she had little to say about Dad`s listing.
Fortunately, this house speaks for itself.
