A Bergen-area homeowner was rather stunned to learn that her house, which is up for sale, was selected as a finalist on HGTV's Ultimate House Hunt.
“I was very surprised if you look at the competition,” said Sarah Kennedy, referring to some luxurious properties in places like California and Hawaii.
“We're up against multi-million dollar mansions.”
Kennedy's modern modular home, which boasts large windows that allow natural light to pour in while offering breathtaking views, is the only entry from Canada in the competition, but it won't win without enough votes.
“People vote for what they would choose as their ultimate house,” said Kennedy, who's also a local realtor.
However, while she was glad her home made the list of finalists, she doesn't expect to win considering the competition she faces with the other multi-million dollar finalists. Regardless, it was nice to find out the architecture of the house is appreciated enough to stack up against such properties, she said, adding the extra exposure didn't hurt either. When Kennedy spoke with the Round Up recently, the site had in about a week received 900,000 hits, she said.
The house was entered into a luxury portfolio website by her realty company and was chosen as a finalist in the Ultimate House Hunt from that, she said.
“I was kind of shocked.”
She modestly described the home, which is nestled among the trees atop a hill overlooking a stream, as a cabin that was designed to be simple and stylish. Although her home has been up for sale since April, she doesn't plan to go far and ideally would like to relocate within the Bergen area. And if worst comes to worst, she and her partner Frank Ahsmann are in no rush to go.
“It's beautiful and we love it — we'd be quite happy to stay.”
Of course should a buyer with a keen interest offer the right price, the couple would likely not refuse.
“If it's meant to be, then it'll happen.”
The home was originally built as “our cabin weekend getaway property. Now we are here full time.”
Since the house has a modular design, there is always the option to add to it and the couple is thinking about doing just that if they don't find a buyer, she said.
“It's not like we're desperate to leave.”
Click here (www.hgtv.com/design/ultimate-house-hunt/2016/bringing-the-outside-in) to see the entries. The contest runs until this Thursday, July 7.
