REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Electrifying: Big house has ‘stunning' feature

Address: 195 Georgetown Road

Neighborhood: Hessian Hills

Asking: $299,900

Assessment: $327,900

Year Built: 1964

Size: 3,484 fin. sq. ft.

Land: 3.84 acres

Agent: Virginia Patrick, 434-817-0395, RE/MAX Assured Properties, Glenwood Station

Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10

At first glance, this house seems like a steal: almost four acres on Georgetown Road with plenty of room for just under $300k. And for privacy, the front of the house actually faces away from the road. Yes, the hum of rush-hour traffic may trouble some, but the rest of the package seems pretty straightforward, even appealing.

Except for one thing. One huge thing, a potential deal-breaker: high-voltage power lines in the backyard! Most people don't want to look at them, and they aren't going away. The road din pales in comparison. 

And that's a shame. Despite its nearly untouched Kennedy Era splendor (the listing says, "1960 called, and they want their house back") buyers may be missing out. Not many houses from the Era survive unscathed in Charlottesville. In our market, dated is still a dirty word. Beyond fixtures and Formica, though, this is a house with solid and spacious construction made for a big family. 

The first floor provides workspace options for telecommuters or business owners. The original garage was finished into a room where French doors provide separate access from the driveway (ideal for a home-based business if the buyer expects clients and wants privacy). An additional room– not a bedroom because it lacks a closet– beside the kitchen has some sort of weird felt covering one wall.

Below, buyers will find old carpet in the den, and a fireplace with built-in firewood storage and a pass-through from the outside so chilly residents don't have to schlep through the house with loads of firewood. Although the carpet is funky (and not in the way that makes you want to dance), the den is sizeable and leads out to a patio. 

A swinging door connects the den to the kitchen, enormous with swaths of counter space and cabinets. Peel-and-stick vinyl tile is less than appealing, though, and the white counters have a funny gold vein design. Appliances also demand an upgrade. A dingy laundry room beside the kitchen needs a "BYO washer/dryer" sign on the door. 

Up a gracious spiral staircase to the second floor, the formal living room has a fireplace and windows with views of the lot. 

A long hall off the living room leads to the private living space: a long corridor leading to all the bedrooms. It's dark, and the tape from a long-gone runner frames the hall, but the wood floors are in good condition otherwise, and two hall closets (one is cedar-lined) serve many bedrooms.

The master suite is average with two long closets with solid-wood sliding doors. In the bath, the ‘60s continue their reign, although the counter is long, and a standup shower accompanies the bath. The other four bedrooms are all about the same with long closets (the same sliding doors). Each also has a built-in desk with bookshelves above. The bedroom closest to the master has a walk-in shower, and the rest share a bathroom in the long hall. 

Despite how it sounds, the house needs a style update more than a complete renovation. With the right approach, the 1960s can meet contemporary in this home, built for a bunch even if your last name isn't Brady— and if you're impervious to the hum of 50,000 volts zapping over your back 40.

PHOTOS BY SARAH JACOBSON

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