Couple wanting to be closer to family found the right spot in Germantown

Taylor and Max Wondries moved to Germantown a year ago to be closer to family. Additionally, Taylor is a partner with Landers Auto Group and is general manager of Landers Ford South, so they also wanted to be closer and more involved with the dealerships in Southaven and Memphis. “We moved from Jackson, Mississippi, where we still have dealerships,” explained Max. “Location was key. It was important to have easy access to both Southaven and Covington, plus we wanted to be near our family in East Memphis.”

The couple set out their priorities before beginning their house hunt. They knew that having a large yard was a top priority. “We love the outdoors and enjoy entertaining outside as often as possible,” said Max. “And it was also important for each of our daughters to have their own bathroom.”

When it came time to select a realtor, the choice was easy. Holly James of Marx-Bensdorf Realtors is Max’s first cousin and dearest friend.

“Holly was so very easy to work with,” said Max. “She was patient and diligent and made the process as enjoyable as possible. The entire Marx-Bensdorf team assisted Holly in the search for a house for us.”

With Holly’s guidance, Taylor and Max looked at about 20 properties, plus Holly previewed any and every option that came available.

“We bought at the peak of the market — high prices, limited inventory,” said Taylor. “We lost several houses in bidding wars. It was exhausting, but Holly walked us through it with care and compassion.”

Taylor and Max found the right home for their family in the Georgelawn neighborhood of Germantown. They paid $1,670,000 for an impressive home with 7,000 square feet of living space. The home’s curb appeal was undeniable, built in 2004, with mature landscaping that was designed to be sympathetic to the home's French Country architecture. And everything in the home was top of the line in terms of workmanship and quality.

There were four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, plus two-and-a-half more bathrooms. The primary bedroom was on the first floor, with the other bedrooms grouped on the second floor. For entertaining, there was a living room, a den/family room, plus a game room with home theater downstairs. A screened porch on the backside of the house, overlooking the landscaped backyard, and the gunite pool with a waterfall feature, offered more room for friends and family to gather. The porch had an instantly intimate feel provided by a brick floor and gas fireplace, and the covered patio offered the perfect place to grill. Another area of the house included a stately home office, with paneled walls and a coffered ceiling.

“Our new home is outfitted for Smart technology, making easy living at our fingertips,” said Taylor. “Plus with a home this size, we have an abundance of storage. There are three walk-in attics and we have a four-car garage.”

Max added, “The screened porch and outdoor space are comfortable and welcoming. The girls love the game room and theater. We love the home’s layout, so nothing structurally needed to be changed. But, everything cosmetic is going to change. We’ve started with the outside: new paint, removing dead or storm-damaged trees, changing the front landscape, adding exterior lighting, installing new irrigation and adding a perimeter fence.”

Inside, the couple has remodeled two bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living spaces and they are currently working on the dining room. They gave the kitchen a little facelift with new paint and lighter colored granite countertops. Stainless steel appliances, including a Wolf cooktop, a double oven, a built-in microwave and a sub-zero refrigerator completed the high-end look and feel of the room.

A large island, with a built-in sink and two  built-in dishwashers, offered a convenient spot for casual snacks and meals. An overhaul of the master bath is planned, but first they are updating the security system and the rear landscaping.

Max concluded, “This home is almost 20 years old, so everything needed a little refresh and in some cases a major update. But, we love our beautiful, established neighborhood and we absolutely love our location. We have easy access to everything we need”

Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Couple Buying French Country Haven in Germantown