Name: Dennis and Leana Conway
The home: A three-bedroom, two-bath house, plus a two-bedroom, one-bath pool house, built in 2000.
Why they sold: The Conways were interested in selling when they learned about plans for Windsong Properties to create Garden Street in Woodstock. The couple wanted to build another handicapped-accessible home for Dennis, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair. The pedestrian access to restaurants, such as Ipp’s Pastaria, stores and their church was appealing to Dennis, who wanted the freedom to eat out or run errands without taking the bus or asking someone to drive him. “It’s like having your life back,” said Dennis, 58, a paraprofessional in special education with the Cherokee County School System.
Time on market: About 40 days
Original price: $238,000
Sale price: $235,000
What it took: The home had a number of accessible features that Dennis added when he modified a ranch floor plan. Doorways were wide enough to enter through a wheelchair, and a wheelchair could easily roll into the shower. Other unique features included a ramp leading into the pool. A pool house was added to create bedrooms for his and Leana’s four children, who are now in college.
Conway said it was helpful for him to be on site when potential buyers toured the home to point out its accessible features and answer questions about the alterations he made to the home. The listing also noted that the home was compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; Rick Steiner with Keller Williams Realty was the listing agent for the home.
The Conways moved in fall 2012 into a four-bedroom, three-bath home in Garden Street, which has houses from the mid $200,000s. Dennis customized the home, which included lowering the placement of the light switches and adding an electric front door. The kitchen island and bathroom vanity countertops were raised so he can roll his wheelchair underneath the sinks. He also can roll his wheelchair into the shower.
Potential stumbling block: Figuring out the true market value of the home was difficult, said Dennis, who is on the Board of Tax Assessors in Cherokee County. He estimates that 50 percent of all recent residential sales had been foreclosures or short sales. Also, houses that had sold nearby didn’t have a pool or pool house, which made his property unique.
Seller’s hint: Make plans for the pets. Even if your dog is the sweetest dog in the world, Dennis recommends arranging for pets to be out of the home when potential buyers arrive. He took his 80-pound dog, which “would lick you to death,” to doggie daycare when people viewed the property.
