3515 Hampton Ave

The house at 3515 Hampton recently closed for $3.675 million on its first day on the market after veteran real estate broker Mandy Wachtler listed the house for $3.75 million.

Wachtler has been a mainstay at Pilkerton Realtors for decades and apparently that firm name is remaining in place even though Village bought the firm and then sold itself to Compass. She will remain a constant regardless of what goes on around her.

A former Realtor of the Year and a past president of the Greater Nashville Realtors, Wachtler was once dubbed “The Queen of the Teardowns” as she represented several of the preeminent local builders in search of lots in the more affluent areas of town. With no lots available, Wachtler sought small houses, and her builders paid high prices for the diminutive dwellings.

Those builders were an elite group unconnected other than through Wachtler. The late legend Rogan Allen reigned as her most prolific client, building exciting, expansive homes after razing the former structures. The words “tall” and “skinny’ would never be used to refer to a Rogan Allen build, and he is the only builder who could invite all of the owners of his houses throughout the years to his Christmas parties.

Allen teamed with one of the city’s most renowned architects, Sharon Piggot, and the top-tier, revered interior designer Kathy Anderson. Their products were unique, often eclectic, functional and were contemporary traditional. Past owners of Allen homes include John Prine, Kellie Pickler, a member of the Kings of Leon and other notable musicians and recording artists, for Allen’s father was the legendary Hoss Allen of radio fame.

Wachtler’s knowledge of design, interior and floor plan has made her a valuable commodity to those in construction and renovation. In the case of 3515 Hampton, her help was not required since the owner had the depth of knowledge to take on the project and she slayed the beast producing a finished product that few could have accomplished.

Nevertheless, Wachtler knows a quality renovation when she sees one and described this property as “gutted to the studs and reassembled to fit today’s lifestyle” and noted the home is “environmentally sound but has Architectural Digest style and character.”

“Ergonomic placement of all the Thermador appliances make the kitchen work a joy,” she added. The doors and windows bear the Pella brand, and the exterior ironwork is from Rocky Mountain Iron exteriors. Chances are that they are not plastic.

While environmentally ahead of the game, there was an attempt to conserve even more energy when a geothermal system was installed and remains intact, but Wachtler and the owners disclosed that the system was disconnected due to “a leak.” That is one expansive leak, as those systems can cost as much as $85,000. Matters not to the new owner, as the seller replaced the geothermal with a Trane high efficiency HVAC.

The house is startling with dark stained floors, exquisite paint and a design that provided for an office that was so well constructed that inefficiency is not an option as every aspect of the work area has an assigned space. The laundry room followed the same theory with ample folding room and spaces for cleaning supplies and even tools.

The open, light-soaked kitchen contrasts beautifully with the dark floors and flows flawlessly into a family room with the dining room nearby. There are five total bedrooms with two on the first floor along with two bathrooms, and the proverbial powder room (half bathroom) is also found on the first floor. Three additional bedrooms are on the second floor with each having a bathroom.

The 4,694-square-foot house also includes a two-car garage.

Two rising superstars ascending into Mandy’s aura and delivered the buyers. Their names are Hays Estes and Graham Meadors from Pilkerton. Remember those names. They will be around for a long, long time, and should be based on their respective pedigrees.

They are the future of upper-end real estate, and their mothers have had quite a collective past. Hays Estes is the daughter of Rhonda Brandon, who has won countless awards in the real estate business. Graham is the daughter of the highly regarded and tremendously successful Shannon Barton, who completes the Pilkerton quintet of Wachtler, Meadors, Estes, Barton and Brandon. Their combined trophy case would rival that of Vince Gill and Amy Grant.

Richard Courtney is a licensed real estate broker with Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC and can be reached at [email protected].