Open plan: Half a tree-crushed house for half a million dollars

Sandile Ngwenya
(Supplied)
Avbob Investment Plan
LOS ANGELES – A house that was crushed when a huge tree fell on it has hit the market in California for $500,000, despite being only half of what it once was.
The 60 square-metre property was partially demolished when an enormous pine tree toppled over, crushing the front.
No one was hurt in the incident, with the two renters and their dogs walking out the back door of the house in Monrovia, near Los Angeles, in May.
But the home was left a wreck. Or a “fixer-upper” in realtor-speak.
After the tree and debris were removed, the view from the street resembles a dilapidated doll’s house, with just a forlorn-looking wall standing between two entirely open-plan ex-rooms.
However, realtor Kevin Wheeler, who is marketing the property, says he should have no problem finding a buyer at his target price of $499,999.
“Here in California, we like an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. It fits right in with the culture — open floor plan, now that the tree has gone since it crashed into the house, plenty of light, all of that stuff,” he quipped.
Wheeler says the property could be just the thing for the right buyer — either someone who wants a project, or someone who would roll the dice on flipping it.
“There’s a house nearby about the same size on the same street that sold for $900,000… so there’s enough meat on the bone for them to make a profit.”
He acknowledges that to people in other parts of the country or around the world, the half million dollar price tag might be a bit much.
But with demand high and supply low in Southern California, he’s fielding plenty of inquiries and has taken several prospective buyers to see the place.
However, he admits that not everyone who has done a tour necessarily made an appointment.
“I think people without my permission have walked it — it doesn’t take very much because there’s no way to really protect it,” he said. “I can’t put a lockbox on the front door.”