District Home Magazine April 2014 | Page 30

Before & After The Dream Team District Home Magazine sits down with developer John Cecchi to discuss an amazing renovation in Kalorama District Home Magazine: Tell us about the Bancroft Place project… John Cecchi: It had been a family estate for a long time, belonging most recently to William H.G. FitzGerald, and it was sold off after he passed away. It’s a 10,000 square foot lot with about a 5,200 square foot property, so it is quite expansive. The home had been neglected in recent years, so it was a typical house that was ready to be redone. We came in and revised the layout, which is what we do with a lot of our projects in Georgetown and Kalorama—in this case that means not only fixing up the existing spaces, but literally adding a stairway, moving the kitchen and the master bedroom, rearranging the guest bedrooms, and completely gutting and redoing the third floor. What we got from doing so is a layout that purchasers today are looking for—a more modern way to live. It’s not just changing the skin, we’re changing the flow of the entire house, which we were able to do while maintaining the home’s historical characteristics. You really get the feel of a historical 30 ISSU E N O. 4 Kalorama property with all the benefits of modern day living and amenities. Kelley Proxmire, who does a great job of showing buyers how they can fill and live in the space, then staged the home—we always find a lot of value in staging. DHM: Why did you decide to work with Nancy Taylor Bubes? JC: Well Nancy is great because she is so well connected, and she’s always thinking of different angles that can benefit the sale.The value in using Nancy is that from day one she is cultivating clients that might be right for the property through floor plans and ideas, and even working with me to decide on finishes. It’s a testament to her that all of our projects together have sold in 45 days or less—the last one sold in just 13 days, and she has presold multiple homes during the construction phase. Nancy also stands out in unique ways, setting up events, and giving back to the community. She is known both as a neighbor and a friend to her clients.