On Secretarys Road: Homesteading possibilities with green amenities

Address: 2230 Secretarys Road
Neighborhood:
Carter’s Bridge
Asking:
$250,000
Assessment:
$219,300
Year Built:
2008
Size:
1800 finished sq. ft.
Land:
2.00 acres
Curb Appeal:
7 out of 10
Listing Agent:
Gracie Haines, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate III - 434-953-8183

There’s a lot of buzz these days around homesteading, the back-to-the-land, sustainable living movement that’s gaining in popularity across the country. Buyers interested in an affordable home that offers the opportunity to explore these possibilities may want to take a look at this property.

Nearly equidistant between Charlottesville and Scottsville, the 1,800-square-foot house is privately situated on two mostly-open acres. The spacious backyard offers raised-bed gardens, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry bushes, and a chicken coop. And, ringed by trees along the back border, the yard is large enough to plant several flower or vegetable gardens and flat enough for soccer. With the addition of some fencing and a small run-in shed, it could also be a comfortable home for a few goats or sheep. 

The house itself, which is mostly screened from the road, is located down a short gravel drive, attractively landscaped with flower boxes adding some color to the upstairs windows. A stone path leads to a small covered porch that opens directly onto a large open space with the kitchen on one side and the dining room on the other. Demarcated from the dining area by a bi-level counter, the kitchen is bright and spacious with lots of cabinet and counter space, a sink with a window above, and a butcher block center island large enough to accommodate a couple of seats.

The adjacent dining room is ringed by numerous windows and offers plenty of room for family meals or dinner parties. A large cased opening leads to a living area with sliding doors that offer views and access to the backyard.

A first-floor bedroom opens immediately off the living room, and the attached bath is easily accessed from the kitchen, which makes the floor plan as it functions now a bit awkward. This could easily be remedied, however, by converting the bedroom to either a study or a home office. 

A small laundry area, accessed by a second outside door, finishes out the living space on the ground floor. Upstairs, there are two spacious bedrooms, one with a huge built-in armoire, and a second full bath with a jetted tub and marble vanity.

Instead of opulence and glitzy finishes, this home offers an emphasis on green building materials– bamboo and tile floors warmed by radiant heat, 2 x 6 framing, Energy-Star-rated Pella windows, and an on-demand tankless hot water heater. The wood for both the vanity in the ground-floor bathroom and the stair rail was harvested from the property, and there are repurposed materials used as acccent points throughout. The house is even generator ready with a separate panel box that powers all the major appliances. With energy bills that we're told average less than $100 per month and a fuel tank reputed to need filling only once a year, this property takes sustainability to a whole new level.

The distance to town– grocery stores are a good 15 minute drive in either direction– is a potential drawback, as is the size, which may be on the small side for some families. For those who are worried about feeling a bit cramped, though, there are drawings available detailing the builder’s ideas for expansion.
~
Each week or so, a brave local seller invites the
Hook in for a candid, warts-and-all review. Email to schedule yours today.


Read more on: secretarys road