11404 Falls Road - Bedfordshire - $1,299,000

Listed by L&F

Google Map Here

There is no lack of new construction in Potomac. Especially in the upper brackets. Finding new homes closer in is a more difficult task. Under $1.3mm? Very tough.

These three lots are tucked in between Har Shalom Synagogue and Falls Road Golf course. This pipestem of three lots in adjacent to, and face the fire station on Falls Road.

The home has nice curb appeal from Falls Road - with a brick front and Colonial styling so beloved in Potomac. The half acre lot is nicely graded with a nice front lawn and a bermed side yard to cut down noise from busy Falls Road.

The foyer is spacious and open with a lovely curved stairwell open to the second floor. The shiny wood floor is expansive - and when the house is vacant - makes the space look HUGE. The Living room is to the right with pretty crown mouldings and tasteful paint. A library with french doors is to the right - perfect for a home office or listening room. A mud room leads out to the 3 car garage and powder room compete the front of the home. The kitchen is center and back - and is a splendid view from the foyer. Granite and tasteful tile backsplash grabs your attention. A full outfit of GE Monogram appliances is a nice accent in this state of the art kitchen. A breakfast room with windows on three sides is a great place for coffee and the newspaper on lazy Sunday mornings.

The family room is adjacent and open to the kitchen. What a great entertaining space! High ceilings and a gas fireplace will make this room a family favorite. Even the largest furniture will fit in this space without issue.

You can head upstairs via the back stairwell to the living area. A MBR suite starts with a nice sitting room. You enter into the bedroom which is perfect sized. So many homes in Potomac have lost "balance" in their scale. This one has it down pat. The master bath is large enough to please the most discriminating bathroom nut. Dual walk in closets finish the space. All the remaining bedrooms are large. Two share a buddy bath and the last has it's own full bath en-suite. There is also a large space in the hall upstairs for "gathering". Think of a great spot for a couch or comfy chair and reading lamp. A great spot for a gaggle of teen girls to sit and gossip or have a study circle. It can also be walled off easily for a 5th bedroom.

The basement is fully finished with berber carpet. A large Nanny suite, a home theatre room and a large play room make good use of the space. A large and wide walk out - areaway - leads to the backyard and supplies good natural light.

So what do I think of this home? I like it. For those that want new construction - it is a must see. For those that don't care as much about new - well - there may be better values to see. $1.3mm is not super expensive by Potomac standards - but will still buy you a lot of house. Some NICE homes too.

The only down side to this lot is the location along Falls Road and proximity to the fire station. Noise will be a factor on the outside of the home. I did not hear a lot inside. Overall - I give this home high marks. It should sell for close to list price.

9313 Bells Mill Road - Pine Knolls - $1,895,000

It is not often I see a home that has been on the market over 1000 days. That's right, not 100 days, 1000 days. 1036 days to be exact. That is almost three years.

This home is near the intersection of Bells Mill Road and Falls Road. The corner lot is owned by the developer as well, and at some point in time may be developed. The lot is ungraded, filled with weeds and brush and has remnants of construction debris from previous building. It looks horrible and may be a reason why the home next door has been languishing almost 3 years.

This is an attractive home from the outside. It is approximately 5000 square feet above grade, with an additional 2500 in the finished basement. With 4 bedrooms and four full baths upstairs and an additional bedroom and bath in the basement, this home is typical of many new construction in the area. It is finished nicely, but not properly. It is important to tend to the details in this price range.

Offered at $1.895 million, the seller is looking for top dollar on this home. In order to get close to that, they will have to send someone in to be sure the home is in top condition. They need to groom the landscaping, integrate the lot next door into this design (We know it is a separate lot, but no one wants to live next to a junkyard), and stage this home with some furniture and accessories. What would it take to install some nice brass numbers above the door to identify the home. Currently they have the house number painted (poorly) above the front door.

If this home was on a quiet cul-de-sac instead of a main road, the price would not be too far out of line. On Bells Mill Road this home will have to be reduced quite a bit to get noticed. There are too many competing properties for this to sell near that pricepoint. Look for this to finally settle in the $1.45 range if the sellers get serious.

PLEASE invest in some nice brass numbers for above the door. It will make a big difference in the perception of a potential buyer.