I am forever telling potential buyers that are looking for a
"fixer-upper" to forget what the inside looks like and not to fixate on
the negative issues of the exterior. I tell them that they are buying
boxes that will get torn apart and rebuilt. If they come up with a good
design by themselves or if they hire a good architect or designer and if
they select the right contractor, they can create the house of their
dreams. The freshly completed renovation and expansion of 530 Catherine
Street is a perfect example of a quality renovation.
Some people might throw their arms up in the air and feel overwhelmed at
the prospect of tackling a project like the one above. But the buyers
of 530 Catherine Street (Todd Kemp & Brian Boyer) did not bat and
eyelash. They made an offer when they first saw the house and closed
soon thereafter. They hired local contractors and undertook the
renovation and expansion in stride. The worked with HARC to overcome
some design concerns. The result is stunning. Had I not been fully aware
of how sad the former house looked, I would not have appreciated how
fantastic the new house looks.
The photos below show the house as it looks today. The front porch is
now a place to sit and watch the world go by. The main entry was
relocated adjacent to the off street parking space. The front bedroom
now has wood walls where the old room had louvered windows with a window
unit A/C. The new great room and kitchen now occupy space where the old
kitchen and living space were located. The rear king sized bedroom with
en-suite bath, vaulted ceiling, and glass sliders open out to the rear
garden, deck, and pool. The former space was a hovel. The newly created
upstairs space is a third bedroom with en-suite bath. That room has a
tree house kind of feel. I just loved that space.
The buyers that purchased 530 Catherine Street completed the renovations
and expansion for about $400,000. What they got in return is
practically a "new" house in an excellent location. And this house came
with a transient rental license. CLICK HERE to view the Blue Corral vacation rental by owner for this great new Key West Property.
