The Daniels and O’Keefe Team's Blog

If you are thinking about buying a house that has privacy, tremendous character, a fantastic yard, many updates in a very convenient location in Sudbury, I encourage you to read on -- what you have seen online up to this point couldn't possibly begin to tell you about how great living at 347 North Road truly is. Multiple Listing Service provides Real Estate Agents/Brokers with exactly 1000 character spaces to use in the description section in MLS. This is typically a challenge, as we are attempting to convince you, in 1000 characters or fewer (including spaces) why you should spend six or seven figures and move into that specific house. In a previous post, “Translating Real Estate Ads” I provided my own interpretive glossary for all the abbreviations we use when describing a home. 1000 characters (and spaces) are not a lot – especially when we want to share with you all of the wonderful features about the house – so, I will use all of the characters I want, using our own internet real estate, to communicate to you why you should buy one of the homes we have on the market. We also like to use this opportunity to tell you about the intangibles, the features of the house that you wouldn't know by looking at the photos online or visiting. The stuff that you would only know if you lived there. It is always such a pleasure to sell a house that has been continuously maintained with such meticulous care and detail that we know that Buyers will be as thrilled with the home inspection as they are with all of the reasons they fell in love with the home in the first place.  347 North Road is that house. For those of you unfamiliar with the builder, Creighton Hammill, the best way in which to describe his houses is "quintessential New England" - wide pine floors, open kitchen / family room, total character set on a beautiful piece of land. This is absolutely not your cookie cutter colonial (not that there's anything wrong with that). 347 North Road is set far back from the road in a beautifully landscaped private setting.  The house has been beautifully maintained and features Pottery Barn decor and all of the amenities you would expect complemented by period detail and character - especially the gorgeous wide pine floors. The heart of the house is a country kitchen that, on one side, opens to a four season Sun Room w/skylights overlooking a spacious backyard ( I would live in this room). The other side of the kitchen welcomes you to the family room with a fireplace. The first floor also includes a handsome office/library with 3 walls of built in bookcases, a well organized mud room, and a perfectly placed powder room between the family room and mudroom. Upstairs features a Master Bedroom with not one, but TWO walk-in CLOSETS, one of which is 15' (probably larger than your first apartment), and a gorgeous spa bath w/skylights, tiled shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. All 3 Bathrooms were updated in 2013. No need to go to the basement to do laundry, as the laundry is also on the 2nd floor. The finished lower level includes a play room and storage space. OUTSIDE: Very cool for kids (and parents), is that the backyard has its own walking path direct to Haynes Elementary School. The backyard itself is spectacular - a real retreat w/its flat yard, lush lawn and plantings. 347 North Road is a very convenient location. Across the street is a brand new neighborhood of million$ homes that are being built. But, buying a house isn't just about the house. It's about the neighborhood, location, and all of the intangibles that make a house a home. 347 North Road is conveniently located close to all points North (Rt 117, Route 2) making it a great commuting spot for those wishing to take the train to Boston from either the Concord or Lincoln North Station commuter rail stops. As I mentioned above, your children will attend Haynes Elementary School, and Curtis Middle School (Sudbury's only middle school.)  High School is the highly rated Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, better known as L-S. I can tell you all about what I love about this house, but it's even better to hear from the current owners:

"We bought our house in 2006 while expecting our first child.  We were looking for a house with a lot of character, potential to grow with us, good access to local activities and commuting, and a private lot with lots of room for our children to play.  Our home is both private and easy access to shopping, sports facilities, camps, school, cultural activities and commuter rail.  With many of these located a short walk through the back yard away.  The house itself has a classic feel, with a comfortable layout, plenty of character and plenty of room to grow (unfinished attic, half finished basement and solarium).  We really see it as our convenient oasis from all of the hassle of daily life.

What we love most about our home is that the backyard is that it 100% private, which is a hard thing to find in the suburbs.  Our boys have truly enjoyed having an entire green space to themselves.  They have loved spending time on the swings, hammock, and setting up baseball fields, soccer fields and for the past 3 winters we have built a hockey rink in the backyard.  The patio has always been a an extension of our living space.  We spend many fall, spring, and summer nights dining out there and during the winter we use our Adirondack chairs and the fire pit.  

The house is very cozy and if it’s a bit chilly or rainy we spend most of our time in the solarium which is by far our favorite room in the house or in the family room with a roaring fire.  We have spent most holidays hosting many at the long table in the solarium and everyone comments on the terrific view and absolute privacy back there.   The morning sun in the solarium is a great place to have your first coffee of the day.

Since we have owned the house, we have enjoyed making it our own by updating it and even adding new items to it.  There are a couple of projects that caught our eye when we bought it and we thought would make it a truly spectacular house.  The new shed, updated bathrooms and residing and painting have all made the house more appealing and enjoyable.  The kitchen is highly functional  and a great place to gather while preparing meals or for the boys to do their homework.  

In the backyard you will also see a path through the woods next to our hammock.  This is a walking path to Haynes Elementary School. The school is about a block away and we feel so fortunate to be able to walk to and from school each day.  As a mother I cherish this time with my boys as I feel I get a lot of updates from them and it is a special time together.  Our dog seems to enjoy the walk too!  When the boys were young we spent many mornings, afternoons, and early evenings at the Haynes School Playground.  Their first jungle gym experience was just a short walk away.  With Davis Field and Frost Farm (Whites Pond) conservation land down the sidewalk on North Road, we have spent many family walks, snowshoe treks, sledding adventures, and picnics enjoying the open spaces and wandering around the organic farmer’s fields that Sudbury has to offer. 

We are a very outdoorsy family and often walk to Davis Field just down the road for the boys soccer games.  We also have explored many of the Davis Conservation Trails throughout the years.  In addition we are lucky enough to be able to walk to Siena Organic Farm for seasonal farm shares which is just past Haynes School.  Haynes School is the smallest and most intimate elementary school in Sudbury and our boys have been fortunate enough to have small class sizes and very good student teacher ratios.  Our son has only 15 students in his class and we are thrilled with this size given the crowded classrooms that sometimes exist in and around the Boston area.  In addition Sudbury Schools have always been top schools in MA and the recent MCAS scores were exceptional!

We joined the neighborhood swim and tennis club called Greenwood and the boys have loved going there after school in the spring and in the summer with their friends.  Camp Sewataro is a short walk through our backyard and we can hear the laughter, giggling, and fun filled noises of the camp in the summer.  For the bigger kids (parents), we have been lucky enough to play several great golf and country clubs close by, with Nashawtuc a little over 2 miles away.  We often ski in the winter and are fortunate enough to have Nashoba Valley Mountain just down the road (11 miles) and easy access to mountains in NH and VT.  Our boys learned to ski at Nashoba and attended ski school one morning a week while they were in preschool.  We are also huge fans of the ocean and can head north or south quite efficiently to find a sandy beach for the day.  

Another great thing about our location is the proximity to several commuter rail stations.  Acton, West Concord, Concord Center, and Lincoln.  It is so easy to head into Boston and Cambridge to go to the North End, college hockey and football games, or just a night out with our friends in Boston either cars or trains.  The house is also centrally located to restaurants and activities in West Concord, Concord, Maynard, Sudbury Center, Hudson and Lincoln.  A couple of our favorite restaurants are Aka Bistro and Rail Trail Flatbread Co.

Just as the family who owned 347 North Road before us did, we have really enjoyed our oasis in Sudbury and hope that another family will continue to have similar enjoyment.  With its classic but comfortable layout, its opportunity to expand with your family, and its private but accessible location, we have really loved this home and built great memories here for our boys."

Easy to show! Call us today. Carole 508-277-6956 or Gabrielle 617-320-8150.

WE ARE SO HAPPY! We were informed today that we ranked within the top 1,000 (top 2%) of over 41,000 Agents in NRT nationwide, for the 3rd Quarter of 2013.  We are honored to have received this ranking several times during past years and strive to remain in the top 1,000 every year. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our clients, friends and referral sources. We couldn't do this without you. We are looking forward to an even better 2014!

Multiple Listing Service provides Real Estate Agents/Brokers with exactly 500 character spaces to use in the description section in MLS. This is typically a challenge, as we are attempting to convince you, in 500 characters or less (including spaces) why you should spend six or seven figures and move into that specific house. In a previous post, "Translating Real Estate Ads" I provided my own interpretive glossary for all the abbreviations we use when describing a home. 500 characters (and spaces) are not a lot - especially when we want to share with you all of the wonderful features about the house - so, I will use all of the characters I want, using our own internet real estate, to communicate to you why you should buy one of the homes we have on the market. 54 Cider Mill Road in Sudbury, MA is situated in a wonderful, old-school, family neighborhood. During my childhood, I remember wanting to live in this South Sudbury neighborhood because there were SO many kids. With regard to the neighborhood, the same holds true today - easy access from Raymond Road (Feeley Field) and Woodside Road (Loring Elementary School), Cider Mill Road connects to Robert Frost Rd which connects to Lands End Lane which connects to Warren Road, etc. etc. The home sale prices in the neighborhood range from 500s to low 900s.  Because of the location and desirability of the neighborhood (I can't emphasize this enough), many owners do opt to add on to their homes rather than move. Many of the homes we have sold recently are the homes I knew as a child. Aside from the authentic "play outside until dinner" type of neighborhood of which so many of us were accustomed, there is nothing very Brady about the actual house at 54 Cider Mill Road that will remind you of the 1970s. Extensively renovated in 2002, some of the great features of the house include updated (fitting my definition of updated) kitchen and bathrooms, a large family room situated off of the kitchen, natural light beaming throughout the house (french doors on both ends of the house), young central air conditioning, and a beautiful patio for entertaining. I love talking with homeowners about why they love a house. In this case, nothing came as a surprise, but for the buyer who did not grow up in Sudbury, the attributes should be key factors in decision making. Ask anyone who lives in the 'hood - it will be the first thing they talk about. According to the owners "The neighborhood is a great place for children.  We often take walks and the sidewalks throughout the area make it safe and easy to get around.  All of the neighborhood children can often be seen hanging out in someone’s yard playing together.  Everyone is so warm and friendly."  When it comes to outdoor living, "We really enjoy spending time on the patio looking at all of the local wildlife or relaxing in the hammock." The owners love to entertain and have told me that "The house is perfect for entertaining – whether it is a holiday sit down dinner for 20+, or an open house Halloween party for 70 – nothing beats the open layout.  We are able to prepare in the kitchen and mingle with our guests, without being cramped.  The kitchen has allowed us to spread our culinary wings with the six burner gas stove; and our kids love the refrigerated drawers, where we stock all of our drinks." If you are thinking about moving to the 'burbs but really want to have easy access to major routes (without hearing them), and live in a neighborhood that caters to families (total social time at the bus stop), this is it. Just ask anyone who lives there.