REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Halls of Ivy: Big house has room to rumble

Address: 700 Ivy Farm Drive

Neighborhood: Ivy Farm

Asking: $740,000

Assessment: $624,900

Year Built: 1979

Size: 3,526 fin. sq. ft., 1,480 unfin. 

Land:  2.98 acres

Agent: Marjorie Adam, Marjorie Adam Team Realtors 434-817-9573 

Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10

In our market, it's easy to understand why sellers don't want to throw money at random upgrades like cabinetry. Why would they, when it's such a personal thing that buyers will likely change anyway? Even with the original cabinets, however, this cusp o' the ‘80s family home is spacious with enough amenities and storage to suit a large brood. 

For buyers who like a clear entryway, the foyer here is roomy enough to fit a grand piano. Dual coat closets accommodate outerwear for a small ski team, and the foyer offers views of the cavernous living room and grand formal dining room with a staircase as a focal point. 

This kitchen hasn't seen the light of renovation, but solid oak cabinets are in excellent condition. It's a large space with lots of storage even if the appliances are out of date. A kitchen door keeps visitors (trick-or-treaters, proselytizers, etc.) from looking directly into the kitchen from the front door.

In the first-floor half-bath and laundry room off the hall, the floors are a patchwork. Linoleum from the kitchen gives way to different patterns in the hall and those other rooms. In the event new buyers redo the kitchen, continuity is something they will want to consider.

This home has lots of shared living space. The family room off the foyer is high-profile, with a wood-burning fireplace and windows on three sides, but off the kitchen a small den is more private. A built-in desk with shelving is functional, and there's another fun feature that's practically invisible: a projector-based home theater system; window treatments hide the pull-down screen. 

Upstairs, three of the four large bedrooms share a bath with double sinks and lots of what can best be described as harvest gold (tub, tile, toilet and even the floor). Still, it shows clean and has been well maintained, like the rest of the house. The master suite has the blues: soft blue covers the walls, and in the bath, the double sinks, toilet and standup shower. The big bedroom has plenty of light and two modest closets. 

Down in the basement a paneled rec room has fresh carpet, a fireplace, and doors to a patio, creating a flexible space with full bath. As they've done in the kitchen, the sellers are leaving the very dark wood paneling to the whims of the next owner. A separate utility room leads outdoors. 

The house sits on a large level lot of just under three acres. Although neighbors are within view, they aren't close, and anybody living here will enjoy the feeling of privacy in the country. With this much space, buyers can cultivate as much or as little intimacy as they want. The current landscaping looks low maintenance. 

Although this house is not inexpensive, buyers do get gobs of space inside and out. Fresh coats of paint in mostly neutral colors make the place move-in ready, and the traditional layout means separation of living spaces. This place has stayed pretty much untouched, but it's certainly not shabby. 

It's a cavernous family home built for a sprawling brood with enough room to be rowdy. 


