One the nicest things any homeowner can do with a house is respect its “bones.” while remodeling and necessary updates can take away from a home’s character, those who have lived in 101 Cherry Valley Road in Forest Hills (MLS no. 886847) had great respect for this Craftsman-style home and its features. It’s on the market with Prudential Preferred Realty’s Samuel Pace (724-327-0444, ext. 361 or www.prudentialpreferred.com) for $239,900. An open house will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Homeowners Justin Sindorf. and his wife, Dr. Rosemarie Hardin, are sad to give it up.
“We have only been in the house for a 15 months,” he said, adding that they are relocating as his wife changes medical specialties.
The home sits on a wooded corner lot with mature trees.
Forest Hills At a glance 1 Includes the Act 50 Homestead Exclusion, which reduces assessed market value by $15,000 for county taxes.
“I love it. It’s the quintessential fall neighborhood and has lots of kids,” mr. Sindorf said.
A covered porch with arched openings and a wood ceiling faces the street. inside, the home is filled with leaded-glass windows, hardwood floors and natural light.
The Craftsman-style woodwork begins in the 7-by-5-foot entry, paneled in a warm honey oak.
The 17-by-14-foot dining room off to the right has a bay with a bank of windows that illuminate one of the many decorative fireplaces in the home. It features forest green tile and a hefty oak mantelpiece with thick legs and clean, simple lines. the fireplace grate is copper with a Craftsman design.
The dining room opens up with a double wide doorway to the living room of equal size. It has a stunning wall of built-in cabinets that flank a wood-burning fireplace whose mantel features dentil molding and a burgundy tile surround. a pair of large leaded-glass windows finish off the handsome wall.
The kitchen, which measures 16 by 12 feet with honey-colored cabinets and hardwood floors that serve as the backdrop for a stunning glass mosaic backsplash created and installed for the space in 2007 by local artist Daviea Davis. (Her work also hangs in the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport). the backsplash depicts a lush tree and greenery. a professional Viking stove with six burners and a center griddle rounds out a stable of stainless-steel appliances. a bi-level mobile center island seats six and has plenty of storage. Granite counter tops cover all of the surfaces and reflect the light from a large sliding glass door that opens to a back patio. Recessed lighting and a high tray ceiling add to the expansive feeling.
The kitchen flows into a morning room that could double as a family room, measuring 12 by 9 feet with a powder room and a row of built-in bookshelves. At the far end is a pair of leaded-glass windows.
Upstairs, four bedrooms with lots of closet space can be found at the top of the oak staircase. the 17-by-14-foot master is painted powder blue and has a decorative fireplace with a small mosaic tile surround. a door opens to an adjacent office that is situated over the porch. a wall of windows overlooks the yard and the walls and ceiling are tongue-in-groove oak. mr. Sindorf says it is his favorite space in the home.
The second bedroom (16 by 13 feet) is painted a moss green and has a decorative pot-belly stove in front of the decorative fireplace. the third bedroom (13 by 10 feet) has a skylight and is painted a sunny yellow.
A full bathroom features a jetted whirlpool tub and a single-sink vanity. Brown mosaic tile is on the floor and trim is painted a bright yellow.
The fourth bedroom measures 10 by 10 feet and has an exposed brick wall with a large closet. the homeowners added laundry hook-ups in the closet and are using it for a laundry room.
“Its so much nicer than hauling laundry up and down.” mr. Sindorf said.
They kept the original hook-ups in the basement in case the next owners wish to convert it back.
That basement has lots of usable space. the 23-by-14-foot room has a suspended ceiling, vinyl flooring and lots of closet and storage space. An electric fireplace throws off extra heat and the walls are painted a crisp white. There is also a full bathroom with a shower.
Mechanically, the home has hot water heat, a whole house fan and window air conditioners. in the backyard, a level patio with a terraced slope that the homeowners recently rebuilt offers intimacy. Steps bring you to a second flat, level green space. two off-street parking spaces are available and the home also includes window screens, security system and all appliances.
The property has an assessed value of $145,000 (http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/RealEstate/Search.aspx) and has only been on the market for a month. Over the last three years, four properties have sold on Cherry Valley Drive for prices ranging from $166,000 in December 2008 to $216,400 in July 2008 (www.realstats.net).
SALES SNAPSHOT CHALFANT 2010 2011 SALES 14 7 MEDIAN PRICE $72,000 $12,500 HIGHEST PRICE $124,900 $130,000 CHURCHILL 2010 2011 SALES 48 30 MEDIAN PRICE $125,000 $149,000 HIGHEST PRICE $305,000 $405,300 FOREST HILLS 2010 2011 SALES 119 61 MEDIAN PRICE $109,000 $112,900 HIGHEST PRICE $380,000 $375,000 MONROEVILLE 2010 2011 SALES 335 195 MEDIAN PRICE $124,000 $123,800 HIGHEST PRICE $640,000 $550,000 OAKMONT 2010 2011 SALES 96 65 MEDIAN PRICE $147,500 $125,900 HIGHEST PRICE $805,000 $595,200 PENN HILLS 2010 2011 SALES 719 407 MEDIAN PRICE $69,500 $60,000 HIGHEST PRICE $267,000 $225,500 PITCAIRN 2010 2011 SALES 43 29 MEDIAN PRICE $28,127 $15,000 HIGHEST PRICE $104,000 $112,750 PLUM 2010 2011 SALES 288 164 MEDIAN PRICE $135,000 $129,000 HIGHEST PRICE $381,725 $325,000 VERONA 2010 2011 SALES 27 14 MEDIAN PRICE $45,000 $28,000 HIGHEST PRICE $200,000 $124,000 WILKINS 2010 2011 SALES 95 45 MEDIAN PRICE $82,900 $83,000 HIGHEST PRICE $269,000 $264,000 WILKINSBURG 2010 2011 SALES 167 122 MEDIAN PRICE $29,000 $22,500 HIGHEST PRICE $265,000 $385,000 First published on October 8, 2011 at 12:00 am