221 WELBURY DR. , SALT SPRING ISLAND, B.C.
ASKING PRICE $1,898,000
SELLING PRICE $1,825,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE $854,000 (2010)
TAXES $5,823 (2012)
DAYS ON THE MARKET 42
LISTING AGENTS Chris and Darlene Hobbs, Sotheby's International Realty Canada
The Action: Only a handful of buyers ventured out to Salt Spring Island to visit this seaside residence. But it proved sufficient to snag a solid bid this winter.
What They Got: This gated, 3,012-square-foot residence on a 0.73-acre lot is easy to access by land or by water, and convenient to store vehicles and watercraft with a paved driveway to a garage and a dock jutting over the beach.
In 2010, the original frame of this 30-year-old house was modified for contemporary style and substance, from a vaulted, sky-lit foyer to a fireside living, dining and kitchen space with dark wood floors, white tongue and groove-wood-beamed ceilings and a centre island with storage and seating.
Private quarters include two main-floor bedrooms with private patios off the bathrooms and a lower-level guest suite and fourth bathroom off a new media room.
The Agent's Take: "It's a five or six-minute drive to the main villages of Ganges, near the Vancouver ferry and it's a nice protected bay for boaters. Those three ingredients are really desirable here," agent Chris Hobbs said. "The interior was more contemporary than what we often see on Salt Spring, almost like a Nantucket beach house."
The changes by a reputable local builder, Wilco Construction, was also a large factor in its sale, which came together within weeks rather than months like other homes.
"It defied the usual time frames on market here, however it's such a beautiful remodel it just fit a segment of the market with its dock and level of finish," Mr. Hobbs said. "Each bathroom has a walkout to outdoor spaces, which is a unique feature of the renovation."