New Maples ranch home attracts buyer who knows how to sell
Dale Benoy decided it was time to give up the large sprawling ranch and its yearly maintenance costs and downsize a little bit. He became attracted to the heavily landscaped maintenance-free community, The Maples at the Sonatas in Woodstock. His choices w
Maps
After living in a 2,800-square-foot ranch home in Woodstock for many years, Dale Benoy decided it was time to give up the large sprawling ranch and its yearly maintenance costs and downsize a little bit.
He searched for only a short time before being attracted to the heavily landscaped maintenance-free community, The Maples at the Sonatas in Woodstock. But the minute he walked into Epcon Communities’ 1,650 square-foot Abbey ranch model, with a base price of $174,990, Benoy knew he had found his new home. Thus a man who makes his living selling, was immediately sold on the lifestyle and architecture offered at the Maples at the Sonatas.
For Woodstock residents, the name of Benoy might sound familiar because Dale and his brother own Benoy Motor Sales, a well-known Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealership in Woodstock.
Dale chose to purchase an Abbey ranch villa because of its price, location and architecturally attractive interior.
“I was looking for a ranch home with a very open floor plan that was set in a maintenance-free environment. I didn’t want to worry about the landscaping, cutting the grass or shoveling snow in the winter. The Abbey floor plan in the Maples at the Sonatas filled all of my needs and desires, so I acted quickly and put money down immediately,” said Benoy.
Within 45 days of its listing date, the home had been sold and he had to find temporary housing until his new Epcon home was completed Dec. 23, 2011.
“I had heard about how difficult it is to sell a home in today’s economy, but I must admit I was very surprised how quickly the home sold, and for a good price as well,” said Benoy.
Benoy appreciated the high-end amenities he saw in the decorated Abbey model, its price and the open floor plan with cathedral ceilings, two-car garage, and the veranda that is filled with natural light as a result of the windows that fill three walls.
“A modestly-sized home that felt much larger than it actually is was high on my priority list,” said Benoy. “I didn’t need a huge home ... after all it is just for me ... but I wanted a floor plan that had a wide open feel and rooms flowed uninterrupted into each other. The Abbey met all these hot points, plus the builder allowed me to customize it to my personal tastes.”
Some of the amenities added to the Abbey per Benoy’s request were ceramic floor and wall tile in the bathrooms, hardwood flooring in the kitchen, granite countertops, a stone fireplace in the great room and custom paint colors applied to select walls. Per Benoy’s request, one of the bedrooms was converted into a den.
The Abbey is a 1,650-square-foot ranch home with two bedrooms, two baths and a master bedroom suite with cathedral ceiling. The master bedroom features a walk-in closet, and the master bath features an oversized shower with built-in seat. Another feature is a great room with custom fireplace and dual French doors to the veranda. Adjacent to the great room is the dining room and kitchen, both of which are covered by an impressive cathedral ceiling.
In regards to comfort and convenience, all ranch villas at Maples at the Sonatas feature central air conditioning, energy-efficient gas forced-air heating, a quick-recovery 40-gallon water heater, and pre-wiring for cable television and telephones.
In addition to the Abbey, Epcon offers a selection of five ranch plans that provide 1,516 to 3,000 square feet of living space and are priced starting at $174,990. Some of these homes are attached ranch-style condominiums arranged in a pinwheel format, while others are single-family homes that do not share a common wall with their neighbor.
Epcon provides a social environment for homeowners to cultivate new friendships. A clubhouse with fireplace, pool table, big-screen TVs and community room plus a heated in-ground swimming pool provide the ideal settings for socializing with new neighbors.
“Within a few days of moving into my new home, I reserved the community room at the clubhouse and hosted a Christmas party for my close friends and family,” said Benoy.
Maples at the Sonatas’ onsite sales center and decorated models are open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. To reach the community take Route 47 to Ware Road, head east ½ mile, turn left onto Vivaldi, and then turn left on Schumann Road. For more information call (815) 334-0340 or visit www.EpconCommunities.com.