After spending over 35 years in Dallas, Texas, Jim and Maria Fenstad decided it was time for a change. With parents in nearby Beaufort and family moving to Charleston, they set their sights on the Lowcountry, eventually settling on the Stono Ferry neighborhood in Hollywood for their big move. Working with Cassina REALTOR Molly Conn Vietmeyer, they were able to find the perfect home that epitomizes Lowcountry living with outdoor living spaces, an inviting interior and stunning marsh views. Read on to learn more about their search!
What was the home search like?
Maria: We started looking in this neighborhood [Stono Ferry] and Molly was amazing. She was great. We did not want to build. When my sister bought the lot out here, I said to Molly that I wanted to look out here in this general area. And that’s how we found this house.
What were the key selling points of this home?
Maria: The view, the deck! We weren’t crazy about the layout, still aren’t, but we wanted to be on the marsh and have a view.
How was your experience working with your agent?
Maria: …the really, really good thing about [Molly] is during the search, she was really open to whatever I wanted to see. And after a couple of days together, she really knew what I was looking for….And [she was] super responsive. I’d send her an email and within five minutes I’d have an email back.
Jim: She would respond right away.
Maria: And once we got the contract in and everything going, she was always one step ahead of the game. She really knows her stuff.
Did you renovate or take on any home improvement projects after moving in?
Maria: Not anything huge. We will be redoing the kitchen–in fact everything is on order right now.
Jim: It will all be redone.
Maria: We’ve painted and done stuff like that. We brought very little furniture with us. We sold a lot of it, so we’ve been busy putting the house together. It’s still a work in progress.
What is your favorite spot in your new home?
Maria: That deck out there! There’s a screened porch and then the deck is open. I would have to say those porches are about half the reason we bought this house. And the view!
Jim: She was hooked on the view as soon as she saw it for the first time.
What are your favorite things to do in the area or neighborhood?
Maria: The neighborhood is really active. There’s a lot that goes on in terms of social activities. We have some really great neighbors. Charleston is just amazing. I love going downtown; I love the restaurants. It’s so historic and so quaint. And we love having access to beaches. We go down to Kiawah on the weekends.
Jim: We get there early and it’s wide open. It’s a beautiful beach.
