Ottawa Construction News staff writer
Habitat for Humanity NCR will receive approximately $190,000 from recent sale of the Barrhaven home built during last April’s Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association (GOHBA) Blitz Build initiative.
The single-family home at 1141 Cobble Hill Dr. sold in October for $426,000. GOHBA members and Algonquin College volunteers constructed the home in three days on land provided at a greatly reduced price by Tartan Homes.
Habitat NCR CEO Alexis Ashworth said the proceeds from the sale will help fund the organization’s ongoing operations, including the construction of five homes in 2015.
Despite the publicity, the house failed to sell during its initial three-month listing period beginning in the summer. However, Re/Max Absolute Realty Inc. Realtor Susan Vacheresse took on the challenge and, donating her commissions, sold the house within 10 days of listing the property in October.
Vacheresse said she received help from home stager Nona Sheehan of Creatively Renewed, with additional support from National Rent-To-Own, which provided the staging furniture, and specialty photographer Karen Power of My Visual Listings. The three suppliers also donated their services.
“The house was spectacular,” Vacheresse said. “The colours the builder chose were not the norm – but that really attracted a lot of buyers.”
Vacheresse has supported Habitat for Humanity with other activities, including co-founding the Zombie Run for Humanity.
The Energy Star-qualified open-concept home features many extras including a custom stone fireplace mantel in the family room and a wraparound quartz-topped island and eat-in bar in the kitchen. It is out of the price range of a typical Habitat for Humanity home, but the funds raised will be used to fund several affordable homes for families seeking to escape the housing poverty trap.
Dozens of GOHBA member firms and volunteers pushed through logistical, organizational and scheduling challenges to complete the home by working around-the-clock in the intense blitz building process. These supporters are recognized in the thank you advertisement on page xx.
