MCM in Clifton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) It will be insanely expensive to heat, maybe cool.
2) You can build a barn or auxiliary buildings (permitted, HOA rules)
3) This particular home is permanently zoned one house per 5 acres, like much of Clifton and Fairfax Station, except for the areas that use the zip code but are really Centreville, Lorton, respectively.
4) IMO "upgrades" are badly done. That Master bath is horrendous.

No aux buildings permitted per a conservation easement.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Well, I made an offer and didn't get it.

Offers were due an hour after the close of the open house. Apparently there were 11 offers, 6 at or above list, and 3 all cash. I'll try to remember to come back and update when I learn the final sales price. But I have reason to believe it is probably at or over 1.1M.

I knew our offer was likely dead in the water because we insisted on an inspection because a conservation easement on the property did not allow expansion of the existing retaining wall (behind the house it is a very steep wooded slope to a creek), and I wasn't comfortable buying without an engineer looking at it and telling me it was fine and would never need to be expanded (probably the case, but I'm risk averse). I'm doubting anyone else looked that closely at the easement, but DH and I are lawyers and actually familiar with conservation easements, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) It will be insanely expensive to heat, maybe cool.
2) You can build a barn or auxiliary buildings (permitted, HOA rules)
3) This particular home is permanently zoned one house per 5 acres, like much of Clifton and Fairfax Station, except for the areas that use the zip code but are really Centreville, Lorton, respectively.
4) IMO "upgrades" are badly done. That Master bath is horrendous.

We have a similar home. We haven't had any major problems with heating or cooling. What's wrong with the master bath? It's got good tile work with large format tiles (not too much grout), and although it lacks personality, it's neutral enough and could be spruced up with some paint and accessories. I would buy that home tomorrow if I could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Well, I made an offer and didn't get it.

Offers were due an hour after the close of the open house. Apparently there were 11 offers, 6 at or above list, and 3 all cash. I'll try to remember to come back and update when I learn the final sales price. But I have reason to believe it is probably at or over 1.1M.

I knew our offer was likely dead in the water because we insisted on an inspection because a conservation easement on the property did not allow expansion of the existing retaining wall (behind the house it is a very steep wooded slope to a creek), and I wasn't comfortable buying without an engineer looking at it and telling me it was fine and would never need to be expanded (probably the case, but I'm risk averse). I'm doubting anyone else looked that closely at the easement, but DH and I are lawyers and actually familiar with conservation easements, lol.

I'm not surprised. That price was pretty low for the property. The easement would have scared me too, though. Although I don't believe in tearing down trees, I don't know how comfortable I would feel knowing all my decisions would need to be second guessed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Well, I made an offer and didn't get it.

Offers were due an hour after the close of the open house. Apparently there were 11 offers, 6 at or above list, and 3 all cash. I'll try to remember to come back and update when I learn the final sales price. But I have reason to believe it is probably at or over 1.1M.

I knew our offer was likely dead in the water because we insisted on an inspection because a conservation easement on the property did not allow expansion of the existing retaining wall (behind the house it is a very steep wooded slope to a creek), and I wasn't comfortable buying without an engineer looking at it and telling me it was fine and would never need to be expanded (probably the case, but I'm risk averse). I'm doubting anyone else looked that closely at the easement, but DH and I are lawyers and actually familiar with conservation easements, lol.

I'm not surprised. That price was pretty low for the property. The easement would have scared me too, though. Although I don't believe in tearing down trees, I don't know how comfortable I would feel knowing all my decisions would need to be second guessed.

Yeah -- I had no problem not tearing down trees and not being able to build additional structures, I wouldn't have wanted to do those things anyway. But being restricted with regard to a retaining wall that keeps the house from sliding down the slope? That scared me. It's probably fine, but like I said, I'm risk averse, so -- I insisted on an inspection and lost the house. It's okay, I'll keep looking. It was so beautiful though, and just what I wanted -- MCM, one-level living, surrounded by woods, quiet, move-in ready, priced well below what something similar would be in a place like Hollin Hills. Sigh. Onward with the house search I guess.

[Anonymous]

I love the house (so much potential!) and Clifton! I’m sorry you didn’t get it OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the house (so much potential!) and Clifton! I’m sorry you didn’t get it OP.

Thanks. I'm kind of in mourning here, lol.

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry you didn't get the house (it's cute!), but thanks for sharing.

Clifton is SO lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing house, terrible kitchen layout.

And why would someone install colonial 6 panel doors in a MCM?

Unfortunately this.

Other than the front room, this house completely lacks any MCM attributes. The kitchen is ugly raised panel (should be slab). The doors are colonial (should be slab). And potentially more concerning: all the windows on the back of the house are builder grade colonial, right up to the colonial trim around them all. Even the size and spacing of all the windows on the back of the house makes no sense for MCM. But for the front room, there’s no MCM charm about the house at all. Not only are they not MCM updates, they are old and ready for update. I think you’d want to spend $300-500k to make this house MCM charming. Otherwise, you’re buying a dumpy 60s house in need of whole house updates with one really cool room.

Although, to add, the lot does look lovely. But wondering if that is par for the course in Clifton? I don’t know the area.

OP here. Yes, lots of big lots and privacy in Clifton. That is why we are looking there (we are looking elsewhere too -- but plenty of outdoor space is a priority).

[Anonymous]

Great lot, but agree with others that the interior of the place clashes in a bog way with the MCM exterior, I would want to make a lot of changes. Sorry you missed it OP, but agree on sticking to your guns when it comes to potential structural issues!

[Anonymous]

Keep looking OP. Lots of nice 5 acre lots homes in Clifton and parts of Fairfax Station. We live in the area and love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing house, terrible kitchen layout.

And why would someone install colonial 6 panel doors in a MCM?

Our MCM house has the original 6 panel solid wood doors except for the door to the basement and basement closets, which are flat front hollow core.
Although, I wouldn't consider them MCM, they were clearly used by builders at the time.

[Anonymous]

Interesting thread. What is the allure of Clifton? Genuine question--I am not familiar with the area and was surprised to see many expensive homes in such a remote location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting thread. What is the allure of Clifton? Genuine question--I am not familiar with the area and was surprised to see many expensive homes in such a remote location.

I think that’s the allure. It’s away from density and the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s quiet and has lots of trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Amazing house, terrible kitchen layout.

And why would someone install colonial 6 panel doors in a MCM?

Unfortunately this.

Other than the front room, this house completely lacks any MCM attributes. The kitchen is ugly raised panel (should be slab). The doors are colonial (should be slab). And potentially more concerning: all the windows on the back of the house are builder grade colonial, right up to the colonial trim around them all. Even the size and spacing of all the windows on the back of the house makes no sense for MCM. But for the front room, there’s no MCM charm about the house at all. Not only are they not MCM updates, they are old and ready for update. I think you’d want to spend $300-500k to make this house MCM charming. Otherwise, you’re buying a dumpy 60s house in need of whole house updates with one really cool room.

The builder-grade interior doors jumped out at me right away too. As well as some of the fixtures and don't get me started on the mishmash of flooring. This house has good MCM bones and potential but it should have been left alone. The remuddle messed it up.