Modernizing and Preserving Older Houses Is Goal of Real Estate Broker Hector Olaya
H
ouses have a history, a stor y. For many people, living in a house with a past adds to the pleasure of ownership. Who lived there before? What did they do? What happened in that house? A home with a history and character, however, ultimately shows the wear and tear brought on by the passage of time. It also may not meet the standards and needs of today’s homeowners. Older houses do not usually have the large kitchens, expanded bathrooms, and walk-in closets in demand today. Princeton real estate broker Hector Olaya has found a solution: preserving the past, while modernizing for today. In a town full of teardowns, he has made the decision to repair, renovate and revitalize older homes, and then offer them for sale. He preserves the integrity and character of the structure, while modernizing it to meet today’s standards of living. “Preserving Princeton” “I’ve been in real estate since 1988, including property management for large firms, as well as residential work,” says Mr. Olaya. “I was associated with several local real estate firms, but I really like to have my own business, be in charge, and make my own decisions.” He also liked the idea of “Preserving Princeton”, and the opportunity to do this came along recently when Princeton resident Tom Mavis joined Mr. Olaya as an investor in the new venture. “The plan is to buy the house, renovate it, and resell it,” explains Mr. Alaya, who assembled a team to work with him and Mr. Mavis. “Tamas Doczi is our master craftsman, who oversees everything, and gets all the workers we need. Our architect is Joel Zieder, and Shannon Connor is our interior designer, who also has her own business in Princeton. All our team members are Princeton people, and being local, they know the town and the area. We have a great team. They are each very knowledgeable and professional.” With Mr. Olaya’s experience and expertise in buying and selling real estate, he is able to find appropriate houses for his purpose. “I do a lot of research, and look for an older house, probably 50 years or older, not in the best condition, and on a nicely sized lot. That means it’s probably a home no longer up-todate or in line with people’s tastes today.” Original Footprint This can be a lengthy procedure, he adds. “Finding
the right home, then making an offer, and dealing with all the negotiations — this can take time.” Once the house has been selected and purchased, then, Mr. Olaya and the team go to work. “We determine the plan with the arch ite c t,” he expla i ns. “The idea is to keep the original footprint, although we will put on an addition, if necessary. Mostly, it is a matter of reconfiguring and re-arranging, and especially enlarging the kitchen, bath, and closets. “We take everything down to the studs to make sure there has been no damage to the wood. Tamas can make and create anything, and he oversees the carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. He is also very recyclingoriented. We like to recycle materials whenever we can — bricks, stones, etc. With the house we’re working on now, we built a curved stone wall with stones we found in the yard.” Mr. Olaya’s current project at 47 Locust Lane perfectly fits his formula for success. A 50-year-old split level, in a very desirable setting on a cul-de-sac, it features brick and wood exterior, is located on a half-acre, with an extensive back yard. It lends itself exactly to the kind of restoration Mr. Olaya and his team intend to provide. “This house has been lived in for 50 years. There’s an aura about it. A lot of things happened in this house. But now it needs to be updated. We’ll be enlarging the kitchen, enlarging and completely reconfiguring the master bedroom, adding a state-ofthe-art bath, and two very large ‘his’ and ‘her’ closets. In order to accommodate the new master bedroom, we will lift the roof.” Other important features are a bath on every floor, the addition of a garagelevel “in-law” suite — or a family room or office, depending on the new owner’s needs. It will include a full bath with shower, and open onto a stone patio. Adjoining this new space will be a mud room with organized shelving. Top Quality “We will have top quality hardwood floors throughout, including three layers of flooring,” points out Mr. Olaya. “In addition, we have created another extra large bedroom where the attic formerly was. It could also be used as an exercise room, office, or even a nursery. “In addition, we will be re-doing the exterior, using top-of-the-line Hardi Plank concrete siding (which will look like clapboard wood), while keeping the existing brick siding near the porch.”
Mr. Olaya plans to add new hardscaping, including a new stone patio and brick walkway, as well as updated landscaping for the front and back yards. “This is a quality house in every way. The walls, the wood flooring, the updated ‘Florida’ sun room — everything is state-of-the-art. And keep in mind, houses were well -made in past times. They were built to last. Through great craftsmanship and design, we are augmenting what was a fine house to begin with.” When beginning work on a new project, Mr. Olaya estimates three to six months before completion, depending on the scope of the job. Permits, inspections, and approvals from the municipality all take time. He expects the Locust Lane house to be ready by early November. He looks forward to the right buyer finding just the right house. “It will be someone coming into Princeton, looking for a nice house in a nice setting. This will offer them a house with a history, rather than a new McMansion. This is an alternative to brand new construction. We offer a house with an aura, character, a feeling of continuity, yet completely up to today’s standards.” Mr. Olaya, whose office is at 32 Nassau Street, can be reached at (609) 575-9597. E-mail: princetonbroker@ aol.com. —Jean Stratton
Renovations
Robert W. Baker Builder Fine Quality Home Remodeling
Robert W. Baker Builder LLC 34 Nelson Ridge Road Princeton, NJ Phone: 609-466-6801 www.robertwbakerbuilder.com
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21 • TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, october 12, 2016
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