Manchester, CT Real Estate: Miller Farms Fulfilling High Expectations

September 02, 2011|By TONY BACEWICZ

After two years of searching and visits to 35 different townhouse communities east and west of the Connecticut River, Mary Wrobleski finally found a home for herself and her 80-year-old mother that met all of her criteria at Miller Farms in Manchester. She said that she was so particular about the quality of construction and getting background information on existing townhouse communities that, "Several brokers gave up on me."

During her extensive search, Wrobleski found that most existing townhouse communities were reluctant to share their history of operating costs and reports on repairs and maintenance. This was a red flag to her that she feared might mask significant issues relating to poor planning and construction. She also enlisted the help of a friend who is a professional builder to share his thoughts and opinions on the quality of construction and reputation of area builders.

Miller Farms scored tops in all Wrobleski's criteria that included having "a layout that would lend itself to entertaining" and "flexibility in who could live here as well as being pet friendly." Her 80-year-old mother also appreciates the two landings on the staircase that leads to her second-floor bedroom. They offer resting points for trips up and down the stairs.

Being able to customize her two-bedroom end unit was also a big selling point for Wrobleski. She added amenities such as granite countertops and was even able to adjust the layout to expand a planned walk-in closet into a home office. "The builder is very flexible with building what you want to fit your lifestyle," she noted.

Resale potential was also a prime consideration in Wrobleski's decision making process. She was confident that her unit's resale value would be high, and her confidence was fully justified when someone made an offer to buy her end unit townhouse less than six weeks after she closed on the property this past July. She noted that Miller Farms' high-end construction and the sterling reputation of Nordic Builders of Tolland make the community an extremely desirable place to live.

Located at 758 Tolland Turnpike in Manchester, the luxury townhouse community offers easy access to Interstate 84 as well as The Shoppes at Buckland Hills and Evergreen Walk. All of the two- and three-bedroom units in this new subdivision come with a full basement, garage, city water and sewers, air conditioning, natural gas heat as well as a gas fireplace in the living room. There are no age restrictions for residents and most common household pets are welcome too.

The entrance foyer of both the two- and three-bedroom units connects to the garage and offers a convenient coat closet as well as easy access to a half bath. The 11-foot by 10-foot kitchen in the three-bedroom units is a bit more roomy than in the two-bedroom layouts, but all come with a full set of GE appliances including a 25-cubic-foot, side-by-side refrigerator, electric range with warming burner, microwave and dishwasher. A choice of cabinet finishes is available as well as an upgrade to granite countertops in the two-bedroom townhouses which is a standard feature in the three-bedroom units.

Nine-foot ceilings on the first floor of all units add a feeling of roominess to the main living level. The three-bedroom models are designed for single-floor living with a first-floor laundry and a spacious 15-foot by 13-foot master bedroom suite with walk-in closet and full bath just off the main living area. An open floor plan connects the dining and living areas in all Miller Farms homes and each home has a sliding glass rear door that leads to a paved patio separated from neighbors by a privacy fence.

Nordic Builders is also offering luxury townhouses with one, two and three bedrooms at Oakland Meadows located at 1158 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. The 52-unit complex is nearly sold out with only nine units available. The builder noted that one two-bedroom ranch style home is now for sale that offers two full baths and convenient single-floor living.

Most of the homes at Oakland Meadows offer a lower-level entrance that connects to the garage, laundry and storage area with stairs leading to the first-floor living area. On the first floor, an open layout connects the 20-foot by 13-foot living room to the 12-foot by 8-foot dining room, creating a spacious environment for entertaining and relaxing.

On the second floor, the master bedroom of each unit includes a full private bath with a walk-in closet. Single bedroom units offer large 17-foot by 11-foot second-floor study or office space with a closet that can be put to a number of uses. Multi-level, two-bedroom homes have a 14-foot by 11-foot second bedroom with a walk-in closet.

Nordic Builders sales agent Liz Koiva says that the company has a solid history of construction experience in custom, luxury, single-family homes in Tolland and Coventry. They have now brought the same level of quality construction to the townhouse market east of the river in order to serve a wider range of luxury home buyers.

Nordic Builders' success in accommodating the tastes and desires of individual home buyers led Miller Farms owner Mary Wrobleski to tell us that she now owns "a townhouse that's more like a house." She highlighted Nordic Builders' exceptional customer service that starts with the purchase process and is evident throughout every step of construction and customization.

The company has scheduled open houses at both Miller Farms in Manchester and Oakland Meadows in Vernon on Sunday, September 4 and Sunday, September 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. Miller Farms is located at 758 Tolland Turnpike in Manchester and Oakland Meadows is located at 1158 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Tours can also be scheduled by appointment by contacting Liz Koiva, Nordic Builders of Tolland, 860-871-9055.

Tony Bacewicz is a free-lance writer living in Old Saybrook.

Property of the week

Miller Farms Manchester, CT