Call it done: Fontana colonial is move-in ready

Address: 2059 Aviano Way
Neighborhood: Fontana      
Asking: $453,000     
Assessment: $388,900         
Year Built: 2004
Size: 2495 fin. sq. ft., 1,235 unfin.
Land: 0.32 acres
Agent: Jim Duncan, Nest Realty 434-242-7140         
Curb Appeal: 8 out of 10

Covenants dictating house styles and building materials typically produce homogeneous neighborhoods, and with larger numbers of houses coming on line, planned community developments are just one of many choices on the market. So what should a seller do to stand out?

The owners of this seven-year-old contemporary colonial completed all the prep work their agent suggested before listing the property. (Real estate agents advise that a gleaming, “market-ready” house sells faster than a house accompanied by a nagging list “honey do” projects.)

It was evident from the smell of the freshly stained wood as we approached that this house has recently been revitalized. Hardwood floors reflect a shiny coat of polish in the dining and living rooms, both of which have crisply painted walls. New beige carpeting spruces up an adjoining family room.

The owners installed a sound system in several areas, including the deck, kitchen area and finished basement. White built-in cabinets in the family room store a TV behind closed doors with shelves on either side for collectibles. A short wall with open storage separates an eat-in kitchen from the family room. Stainless steel appliances, cherry cabinets, solid-surface counters, and ceramic tile floors appear clean and current.

A pantry, roomy half bath, and formal dining room complete the first floor level. French doors in the kitchen lead out to a private, lattice-covered wood deck. On the ridge just beyond the deck, a stone retaining wall is topped with shrubs.

Four bedrooms on the second floor retain some of the owners’ personal paint preferences. The master bedroom suite has views of Carter Mountain and beyond. Typical of other homes built in this ridge-hugging development, the master bath contains a ceramic-tile jetted tub with a separate fiberglass shower. A solid-surface, two-bowl sink provides plenty of elbow room. Down the hall, a full laundry room with utility sink is centrally located next to another full bathroom with a double sink. There is new carpeting throughout this level, and storage space includes a hall closet and pull-down stairway leading into a finished portion of the attic.

Parents can take refuge in a small office located in the walkout basement. Next to it a carpeted media room contains a wall of built-in cubbies with doors to hide toys or sports paraphernalia. There’s a full bathroom for guests, and a large walk-in pantry opens from the hall and also from the two-car garage.

Homeowners in the Fontana development have expressed mixed feelings about the expansion of condos obstructing the view from their front porches. While some mourn the loss of wilderness, others hope that residents at The Pavilions at Pantops will move up to Fontana homes to enjoy larger properties with amenities.

The owners have already moved themselves and their furniture out of this home on Aviano Way, so buyers must use their imagination to envision how to occupy the space. The Real Estate Staging Association reports that in 2010 houses that were staged spent less time on the market than empty places. Most houses that are laid bare will expose a laundry list of maintenance issues, but the diligent work of these homeowners may pay off with a “sold” sign.
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