Completely Restored Gordonston Home For Sale

Completely Renovated Jack Stacy Home

A remarkable example of mid-century modern architecture, this Savannah famous architect Jack Stacy home has been thoroughly and beautifully restored inside and out. The home has been upgraded with extensive landscaping, updated sprinkler system, shadow boxes, and privacy fence with gate. The home’s systems are all top-grade including high-efficiency split unit HVAC with UV disinfection system, a whole house water softener, an 80 gallon hot water heater, a reverse osmosis filter in the kitchen, all new triple-pane windows and a security/alarm system.

Enjoy Entertaining In This Gourmet Kitchen

The home is surrounded with mature plantings which line the stone walkway entrance to the custom replica front door. Once inside, the living room reveals a soaring 17 foot ceiling for an expansive and open feeling. A resplendent feature throughout the home are the beautifully restored Brazilian Parana pine wood paneled walls. Perfect for entertaining is this gourmet kitchen with gorgeous original birch cabinetry and updated Elite appliances including a 5 burner cook-top and double dishwasher. There is even a butler's pantry which includes a 2nd refrigerator, microwave and appliance station.

Large Main 

The dining room is located adjacent to the kitchen with a view through sliders to a well-designed patio for additional outdoor living space.  On the opposite side of the kitchen is a breakfast bar, which opens up to the family room that displays built in floor to ceiling bookcases. Also on the main floor is a well-lit master suite with a roomy closet, and en-suite bath. This master bath offers a custom vanity, with a heat lamp and walk-in shower. The main floor possess a stunning powder room, tiled floor to ceiling with cobalt blue Vitrolite panels. Downstairs are two offices with a separate entrance a heating/cooling unit, and a half bath.

Second Master Suite Upstairs

The second floor holds two guest bedrooms, guest bath and a second master suite with en-suite bath. Each guest room features high ceilings, original hand-made interior shutters and ample closets. The second master suite has 13 foot high ceilings and 8 foot tall windows. The en-suite master bath, offers radiant heat, a full size jetted tub, and custom poured concrete shower and vanity.

 Centrally Located for Any Activity

The house is located at the gateway of Gordonston one of the city’s leafiest and most sought-after neighborhoods. The neighborhood has its own private park, the Juliet Lowe Park, named after the founder of the Girl Scouts. Residents in the neighborhood have a key for access to the park for private parties or for a quiet stroll. The home is located in one of the most convenient locations in all of Savannah. Within a 2.0 mile radius is the Skidaway Rd, Victory Drive corridor lined with stores and restaurants, and easy access to the Truman Parkway. One mile in the other direction is Historic downtown Savannah, rich with history, culture, restaurants, and diverse activities.

Remodeling Trends Include Open Spaces & Accessibility

A new AIA Home Design Trends survey says showy and large upgrades are out and functionality is in with today’s remodeling home owners. Reflecting the desire to keep homes affordable in the current weak housing market, home layouts have generally been simpler and floor plans more flexible.

“There have been some pretty significant changes over the past six years and housing preferences may have changed permanently,” says Baker. “The day of the grandiose master bath may have passed us by, and the trend of integrating the kitchen into the family space accelerated during the downturn, along with multi-use spaces and informality.” says Kermit Baker, the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects. Here are some highlights of what the survey shows with trends in  remodeling homes.

Special Purpose Rooms

Today's trends in special function rooms are toward simplicity. Optional special function rooms are limited to just a few key uses. One third of homeowners surveyed noted that the home office is the most popular special function room. Two other special function rooms that are popular are mud rooms, and outdoor living areas.  

Green and Sustainable Projects

The survey showed homeowner remodeling has two key pragmatic objectives: energy efficiency, and making homes more accessible for an aging population. More homeowners are upgrading their homes towards becoming greener. Insulation in the attic, HVAC upgrades and sealing air leaks are items that appear to be on the rise when people make home improvements. With home offices on the rise wireless telecommunications and data systems are growing in popularity as energy management systems. Other energy upgrades also include solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and water reclamation systems however they are not mainstream in most markets.

Accessibility

As homeowners prefer to age in their current home, accessibility has become a growing concern. As a result, in-home accessibility was observed to be increasing in popularity by 58 percent of residential architect respondents. As we plan to stay in our homes longer, remodeling updates include changes like first-floor master bedrooms, ramps/elevators (including adding a shaft for a future elevator), easy-to-use features for handles and faucets, and non-slip floor surfaces. Increasing in popularity are open space layouts in the home with flexible floor plans. Informal space is another lifestyle preference that remains popular.

More Outdoor Lesuiure Time

A 2012 survey showed interest in outdoor living space increasing. People may be spending more time outside, but in a leisurely fashion as there has been an increase in low-maintenance, low-irrigation landscaping. More people are going for lawn alternatives that promotes sustainability and a savings on the water bill. Rainwater catchment systems and gray water reuse are other popular outdoor features. 

Craftsman Style Home in Desirable Ardsley Park Savannah

Ardsley Park The Most Desirable Community

This Craftsman Style home is on a corner lot and a great block in Ardsley Park-one of Savannah's most desirable communities. Handsome and stately, the home's Craftsman-era details reflect a subtle yet refined sense of style and substance. Big, separate living room with fireplace, built-in bookshelves and French doors opening to a bright, cozy sun-room.

Sizeable & Comfortable Living Area

Comfortable dining room immediately adjacent to a well appointed and fully equipped kitchen. Quality

counter tops and cabinetry and stainless appliances throughout kitchen. Breakfast bar and space for table overlooking the rear deck and garden. All three bedrooms are upstairs and are good size with closets in each. One full bath and one half bath rounds out almost 1800 square feet of living area. Wraparound rear deck and fully fenced, gated back yard with some mature plantings.

Centrally Located

This home is located  within walking/biking distance of red-hot Habesham Village. This tiny, upscale enclave of businesses features no less than a burrito bar and pizza joint, a Bikram yoga studio and florist, Japanese and Italian restaurants, a pet store and coffee shop...and yes, more. A Rite Aid and Red and White supermarket wrap the whole package up and make this cute strip of shops a perfect, Savannah-inspired 'village'. Also close by are locals favorites like Al Salaam deli, Green Truck burger joint, the Starlander Cafe and Habersham Antiques. Two hospitals are around the corner and Twelve Oaks shopping center and Abercorn Walk are less than 10 minutes drive away.

Hot Listing In Hot Neighborhood

This location also offers quick access to Downtown Savannah (10 minutes) as well as the Truman Parkway Southside, Downtown and even the Islands. Ardsley Park is one of the creme de la creme neighborhoods of Savannah.  Repeatedly featured on "Best Of..." lists, it boasts a tight community, very active neighborhood association, park-oriented, Beaux-Arts inspired landscapes and more. This is a hot listing in a hot neighborhood. Jump on it!

Habersham Village Charming Midtown Savannah Ga Community

Savannah's GA Best Restaurant

The votes have been tallied for Savannah's Best of for 2013, and the winner in the food category is The 5 Spot. This down-home, lowcountry neighborhood eatery is located in midtown Savannah - Habersham Village.  Owners of this restaurant which just opened in Dec. of 2012 also are part of a group that started four other sucessful restaurants; Blowin' Smoke, Abe's on Lincoln, B. Matthews and the Blue Turtle Bistro. The 5 Spot offers American fare, nothing excessively pre-packaged, entree's such as grilled almon with a burnt rosemary aromatic, a fried green tomato BLT, and a pulled pork sandwich with peach barbecue sauce.

Habersham Village A Staple of Midtown Savannah

Habersham Village, named after the  prominent Habersham family in the colonial, revolutionary, and early national Georgia era, is a friendly and quaint neighborhood that lays west of historic Ardsley Park. The Hull Park is situated in the upper east quadrant of the of Habersham village neighborhood, with the 'Village', a staple in midtown for more than 3 decades, is filled with a variety of stores, coffee shops and eatery's in the center. The neighborhood with its own branch of the YMCA is only a 10 minute drive todowntown historic Savannah, 15 minutes to the local mall and 30 minutes to Tybee Island beach.

Midtown Savannah Charmed Convient Lifestyle

Living in the Habersham Village area means that nearly everything one could need is a mere walk, bike ride, or short drive nearby. Many of the the homes are charming Arts & Crafts style bungalows bulit in the 40's and 50's. Most homes are selling under the $200,000.00 range.

To see homes listed for sale in this neighborhood, check our listings here.

Refinish Your Tub & Brighten Up Your Bathroom

I have been looking at my yucky tub for a while now, and have finally decided that's it! I have got to do something. some of the finish has been permanently worn off and so some permanent stains developed there.  I 'm working with a tight budget so I did some DIY research on how to proceed with this project. After some searching I found a few great ideas I have come up with that are worth sharing.

1. Purchase a tub refinishing kit; you’ll find them at hardware stores and home improvement centers from about $30 - $80.00. The Rust-Oleom Tub & Tile refinishing kit has good reviews and is only $30.00

2. There is a bit of extensive tub preparation before applying the the tub enamel. First you will need to remove the drain, and trip lever. You will need pliers, a screwdriver and a bit of muscle.

3. Then clean the tub using an abrasive pad and a cleaning product that contains a bleaching agent. Clean twice, thoroughly rinsing after each cleaning. You can use a razor for some scraping if needed. wipe up the razor scrapings and rinse.

* Tip: If there are some rather big nicks you can fill them with automotive body filler. Let it dry then sand to shape.

4. Next sand using 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Rinse, dry with towels, then let dry completely for several more hours. Now your ready to refinish the tub.

5. First however you will want to mask off the area of the tub such as the tile and floor next to the tub that will not be refinished. Use blue masking tape and newspaper for this.

6. Finally apply the tub and tile enamel with a sponge brush and roller.  Cut in using the brush, then place it in a plastic bag to keep it from getting dry as you may need this for a 2nd coat. Then use the roller to apply the enamel to the rest of the tub. Once finished throw the roller away. Apply the enamel rather quickly watching for drips. Do not let the roller dry out, as it is not reusable. Once finished applying the enamel allow the tub to cure for 3 days, make sure to wait at least 48 hrs before removing the tape and paper. FYI, this stuff is pretty toxic, so you’ll need to wear a mask and open up the windows.

Although this project takes some effort and time it is a great money saving DIY project that can change the look of your bathroom from dingy to bright and shiny.

Historic Downtown Savannah GA Beautiful Place To Live

Savannah is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a wonderful place to make your home. Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe and served as the first capital of the Georgia colony and state. Savannah’s charm is visible in the historic downtown with Spanish moss-covered live oaks, and its abundance of historic buildings, such as the Andrew Low House. Along the Savannah River, musicians, galleries, and shops compete for attention on River Street, while iron bridges and cobblestone attract visitors to Factor’s Walk. The art scene flourishes, thanks in part to the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Historic Squares A Big Draw

One of the biggest attractions of living or visiting downtown Savannah are it's beautiful squares. Each square has a name, some of which ae named after notable military men. The city of Savannah maintains the squares on a daily basis making sure they are clean, fountains flowing and shrubs and flowers kept healthy. You can download a walking tour of the squares at www.citywalkinguide.com/squares of Savannah.

DowntownSavannah Full of Culture & History 

The Historic District of Savannah is buzzing with creativity, art, culture and live theater and is the perfect place for you to spend a weekend or a lifetime. Many people who visit end up falling in love with Savannah and move here to live in one of the oldest cities in America - a site of many famous Revolutionary & Civil War Battles. Living in the downtown area is the place to be where nearly everything is in walking or bicycling distance. With the SCAD one of the best art schools in the country sprawled around the city there is always something to see  or do.

You'd Love Living in Historic Downtown Savannah 

Historic Downtown Savannah is a blend of stately homes and townhouses along with a stock of commercial spaces all centered around the original squares. The beautiful Victorian manor like homes boast wrap around porches, wrought iron fences stately entrances, and mature fauna. Currently there are over 30 homes for sale in downtown Savannah, where walking to your favorite restaurant is a delight!

Gorgeous Restored Victorian Home in Historic District Savannah Ga

New Listing!

Fully Restored Victorian Home In Historic Downtown Savannah 

Listing Details:

223 W Bolton St. Savannah, GA 31401

Price: $695,000
MLS: 109679
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Square Footage: 3172

Enjoy Entertaining in This Spacious Victorian Home

Fully restored, handsome Victorian home with double wraparound porches. This beautiful Victorian home greets you with a fabulous custom tiled floor in a gracious entrance foyer. Relax and entertain in the large living room with a gas fireplace, and dine in a separate dining room also with fireplace. There are tall ceilings for cool living and beautifully finished hardwood floors throughout. Enjoy cooking in this ergonomically designed gourmet kitchen with a butcher block island, stainless steel appliances, and a high-end gas range. Details in the woodwork and the custom tile flooring help make this kitchen a place to create gourmet meals.

You Will Love Sitting on This Wrap-Around Porch

This Victorian home boasts double wrap around porches on the first and second floors, so you can catch breeze and watch the comings and goings of the Victorian neighborhood anywhere in the house. There are four bedrooms, with a large spa-like master suite which has a vaulted bead board ceiling and gas fireplace. Two full baths and one half bath complete this over 3100 square foot of living space.

Living in The Victorian District Savannah GA

This central location serves up all the very best that Historic Savannah has to offer. In one direction, its an easy walk to Downtown, Broughton Street or River Street. The other direction is home to Forsyth Park, Savannah's world famous green jewel and the uber-trendy SOFO district, with landmark businesses like the Sentient Bean coffeehouse, Brighter Day natural foods, Local 1110 restaurant and more. Close proximity to the bulk of SCAD's buildings as well as its stunning Museum of Art.  The Jepson Center, Telfair Museum and Johnny Mercer Convention Center are all easily within walking distance. Also very convenient to 1-16 connector and the Talmadge Bridge over to South Carolina. 

Find More Homes in this Area

Demand is finally starting to catch up with supply and significantly fewer distressed properties weighing down the system. If your selling your home and want to be in the competition as the supply narrows, than you should know that a property’s curb appeal naturally makes a critical first impression. While most real estate professionals advise their clients to tend to the yard work, trim the trees, and put out a new welcome mat, there are some other opportunities to help sellers improve a home’s curb appeal. Real estate professionals call it ‘Staging’ and can offer some compelling ideas for sprucing up exteriors, here are a few extra ideas.

Front Door

A front door can be a home’s focal point. You want to repaint or even replace your door. Replacing a front door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers the biggest bang for the buck at resale. (An average of 73 percent of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine). Here in Savannah there are many homes with wooden front doors, yours home may have one of them. If so, perhaps you may want to consider refinishing it. This would give your entryway a warm and inviting look. 

Windows

Wash them inside and out make sure all of the windows have screens. Try dressing up the windows with flower boxes. Check your shutters, do they need some repair, or repainting? If you are painting the shutters the trend is away from high contrast green, red, or black. More monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house is what most buyers are looking for today. This goes for your front door as well.

Front Porch

Here in Savannah this is a critical first impression, and can be a key selling point, so don’t overlook this part of your home. Consider this additional square footage of living space, so stage it with as much care as you would the rest of your home. Add some rocking or Adirondack chairs or even a porch swing, with a side table for coffee and for writing up contracts. Add some potted flowering plants as well. You can get some great ideas for porches by driving through Ardsley Park, or Baldwin Park, or try the Victorian district where many homes have front porches that are often used by their residents.

After Dark

You can bet that home buyers will drive by your house in the evening to survey the neighborhood. Add some portable outdoor lamps along your walkway. Home centers sell solar lights for a very affordable price these days. Make sure your porch light is working and perhaps add a lamp on the porch if it is large enough to do so, and make sure to leave them on. The goal is to create a warm glow from the curb, making your home look cozy and inviting.

Sure To Sell

With these extra tips your home is sure to sell. If you are looking for some additional information on the process of selling your home try The Sellers Roadmap on our website.

A home is the greatest investment a person can make, to keep that investment safe, every day wear and tear on the home needs to be addressed. As winter slowly comes to a close it is an excellent time for some spring maintenance. As luring as it maybe to skip this type of work it is wise to take care of the little things before they become BIG PROBLEMS.

Here in Savannah our high humidity can create some big home problems. Mildew and mold is an especially prevalent issue with homes here in Savannah. On the interior of your home make sure your home’s humidity is in the proper range. Too much humidity in your home creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew and other home invaders.  Humidity control is also important for controlling indoor allergens and bacteria. A good rule of thumb depending on the season, is to keep your home between 30% and 60% relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.

In Savannah GA humidity is a constant and really effects the homes here adversely. Before the extreme heat comes now is the time to check for water and mold in your crawl space. The framing and material in the home is a like a sponge, starving for moisture, so as water enters the house it's absorbed by all the building materials. Then when the temperature warms and the humidity increases, it's perfect conditions for mold to grow. If you don't get it taken care of, you could get sick. As humidity builds in your crawl space, it creates an ideal space for mold and rot to grow. Crawl space humidity leads to all of the following problems in your home:

• Rotting & Mold
• Rusted, Corroded Metal
• Odors & Allergens
• Higher Utility Bills

Fortunately, controlling crawl space humidity is easy! Contact a professional and get a crew of crawl space contractors. They can usually install a moisture control system in less than a day.They will usually seal those crawl space vents, and then follow up by installing a crawl space vapor barrier on the walls and floors. A crawlspace dehumidifier is a great finishing touch for drying out the space and helping you to best preserve your home.

Many Savannah homes have original wood flooring, especially homes in the Victorian, Ardsley Park, and Baldwin Park districts. While inspecting your home for damp and moldy areas also check your floors. If you find some flooring that has been damaged with water you can try bleaching the area with oxalic acid. If this does not work than you will need to replace the boards.

For Savannah homeowners these tips are especially helpful on what to do in reducing humidity in your home:

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.
• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
• Increase air temperature.
• Clean your dehumidifier if you have one
• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.

Here is a great website I found to learn about how humidity effects our homes here in Savannah.
http://www.lowcountrybasementsystems.com/crawl-space-repair/crawlspace-dehumidifier/humidity.html
Another website to follow up on mold and moisture in your home. http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html

Home Buying A Solid Investment in Savannah GA

 

Deciding to Buy a Home
Home ownership is the foundation for a life of financial security and personal choice. There are many solid financial reasons to support your decision to buy a home, among the top are; equity buildup, Consider this as a renter; the tax savings on the mortgage interest alone usually makes up most of the difference between rent and a mortgage payment. Buying is 44% cheaper than renting, because mortgage rates are still low. The average mortgage interest rate in Savannah is 3.5% on a 30 yr fixed loan.



Preparing Your Finances

For most people, the home you can afford to buy ultimately depends on how much money a bank will lend you. However, you must also carefully consider your current and future expenses. Sit down and get a ballpark sense of what you can borrow based on your income and expenses. Here is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind when making your calculations:

• 36% of your income goes to pay debts. Banks generally advise that your mortgage payment not be more than 28% of your monthly income, leaving 8% for other debts like a car loan.
• 31% of your gross income goes toward taxes. That's the national average.
• 33% goes toward everything else – food, clothes, entertainment, vacations, as well as savings and investments that you put away for a rainy day.

*According to Trulia.com  (real estate website) the average sale price of a home in Savannah is $147,000

Check Your Credit Rating. 

Your credit score will have a huge impact on what type of property you can buy, and at what price.

It is first recommended to check your credit rating with an experienced lending institution so that you can determine what you can afford.  If you have a poor credit rating don’t let that keep you from talking to a lender. They can help you explore your options, you may be pleasantly surprised.  A good loan officer will be able to help you resolve your credit challenges by setting you on a debt consolidation plan. Even if this plan takes several months, it immediately sets you on the path to home ownership. During this time be careful with your finances.  Now is not a good time to make sudden career changes or large purchases. You want to approach your property purchase from a position of financial stability.

Be Cost and Value Conscious

When shopping for your home focus on value and price, instead of just price. When looking beyond the surface be clear about what you want and what matters most to you. Choose your home with your heart and your head. Neighborhoods and home size usually are important factors, however consider your lifestyle and look in areas that fit for you. Factors that can make a big impact on whether your house feels like your home include:

• Schools
• Safety
• Traffic
• Neighbors
•  Proximity to Shopping

Savannah Historic Districts Great Value & Price
Here in Savannah there are several communities with good value to fit anyone’s needs. Consider looking in the Baldwin Park, Gordonston or Daffin Park/Parkside area if you are looking for a great family community with active neighborhood associations. Or perhaps you have an empty nest and are very active in downtown Savannah events. There are many great values in the Thomas Square, Victorian District or even historic downtown Savannah, where there is opportunity to walk to most shops and restaurants. Don’t hesitate to get out and look, you may be surprised.