Capitol Hill Real Estate, 1909

Capitol Hill Real Estate, 1907

The Things You See … When Going to Open Houses

My partner and I went to an open house yesterday that was a train wreck. All in all, it didn’t look too bad on the surface, but the more you allowed what you were seeing sink it, the worse it got.

One of the things that jumped out to me as a HUGE red flag was this little sink which was probably no more than 9″ x 12″. There were two of them, one in each condo of this former single family and store structure.

The first bathroom that had this was a bit odd. This small sink is designed to be attached directly to the wall without any support from below. The stand that the builder decided to install is from a much larger sink set, and it forced them to get really creative in connecting the two pieces. It was filled in with … I don’t know what the gap was filled in with. It wasn’t porcelain like the basin or pedestal. It was some mystery product.

The second bathroom that had this basin at first appeared better, until I remembered that it is not a drop in basin. So as I looked around the counter top it looked like it was cut to fit the shape of the sink. Ok, wacky, but not completely horrible … until I looked underneath.

When I viewed underneath I quickly saw that the sink was not attached to the wall. It was not attached to anything. The only thing holding it up was the plumbing and the trap. There was also a lot of goop (mastic, mystery adhesive, who knows) just glopped on to keep the sink in place.

I gotta tell you. If a builder can’t handle getting a couple of sinks installed correctly, I really question everything else they’ve done and would not be comfortable living there. See images below.

Woodley Park Real Estate, 1910

2014 15th Street NW is a Head Turner

I haven’t reviewed a property in a while, mostly because there isn’t much that excites me these days, I haven’t been to an open house in a while, and there is nothing really on the market in my neighborhood that hasn’t been there for several months.

That said, I think this new listing is worth a look. Personally, I think the listing price of $1,199,000 is a good value. I’m basing that on similar properties in Columbia Heights that have sold for $999,000 in the last six months that are not as clean or fixed up as this one is. Its ready to go. It has four three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a nice deck, back yard, two off street parking spaces, and is just a half block north of U on 15th street.

When you consider that it is move in ready and has a legally rentable basement, it becomes a better value.

Look at the listing here (MLS DC7105692) which includes a virtual tour. Whether you agree with me or not, I’ll be shocked if this is on the market for long.

Park View Real Estate, 1908

Real Estate Ad From January 16, 1916

Shepherd Park at a Glance

The Shepherd Park neighborhood is featured in the June 20, 2009 Washington Post. If you missed it, you may want to check out the article Where Diversity Is the Draw. The Post summarized the neighborhood in the following manner.

BOUNDARIES: 16th Street NW on the west, Eastern Avenue on the north, Georgia Avenue on the east, Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the south

SCHOOLS: Shepherd Elementary, Deal Middle School, Coolidge High School

HOME SALES: In the last year, 19 houses sold, with prices between $358,500 and $712,000, according to Nancy Wilson, an agent with Evers & Co. Real Estate. Six houses are listed for sale, at $450,000 to $725,000. Four houses are under contract, with listing prices between $499,950 and $779,000.

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE: Downtown Silver Spring and downtown Takoma Park, Ohev Sholom and Tifereth Israel synagogues, Washington Ethical Society, stores and restaurants along Georgia Avenue, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

WITHIN 10 MINUTES BY CAR: Downtown Silver Spring

This Date in History

June 18, 1921: The following ad was in the Post listing local homes for sale.

Then and Now: the Former Italian Embassy

Then: Photographed shortly after completion in 1925, the Italian embassy would stay at this location for the next 75 years.

Now: The former Italian embassy is now vacant and for sale. You can view listing information here>>

History: The story of the Italian embassy on 16th street starts in January of 1924, when it was announced that plans for the new embassy had been completed and sent to Rome for approval. It was believed this would happen since the project had already been ratified both by the Italian government and the parliament and the Italian Ambassador Don Gelasic Caetani had been given a free hand in the matter.Before moving to the 16th Street and Fuller location, the Italian legation had moved no fewer than 13 times between 1881 and  1925. Finding a long term location was a high priority for Ambassador Caetani.