In the notable words of 13th century poet Rumi, “everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” For Terese Brittingham and Tom McCouch of Keller Williams Realty Group, that work has been their passion for working with and for potential homeowners. They realize real estate is simply more than purchasing and selling houses—but rather, it is the hopes, dreams and feelings of the client. This philosophy is in part why both Brittingham and McCouch are renowned in the industry among their peers for their honesty and integrity, and have remained as successful as they are today.
Serving the Greater Philadelphia Area and beyond, Brittingham and McCouch specialize in luxury homes, relocation, special financing and first-time home buyers. Two of these homes include a gorgeous custom-built estate located along the Main Line in Malvern, and a tranquil mini-estate situated on the side of Valley Forge Mountain.
The luxurious Malvern estate, 1 Firethorn Lane, is located in what Brittingham and McCouch consider a pristine cul-de-sac neighborhood, and sits atop more than two acres of freshly landscaped grounds, with a governor’s driveway and a three-car oversized garage. Those looking to make the most of their summer days and nights will not be disappointed by the sizable in-ground heated pool—one of the property’s grand features.
Upon entering, one will notice the quality this home exudes, boasting 10-foot ceilings and meticulous millwork transoms at every angle, along with oversized solid core doors and an array of custom built-ins. Touring the home’s full interior, one will find a sun-filled great room, a generously sized chef’s kitchen, formal dining room and two powder rooms, in addition to the large play room and mudroom. Other unique attributes bound to catch the eyes of many prospective homeowners is the master bedroom suite encompassing the first floor, a private staircase ascending to a secluded au pair suite, and another staircase leading to the second floor master bedroom suite, a fully-equipped laundry room and three additional bedrooms—each including their own full bathroom.
Descend downstairs and one will enter into a fully finished basement designed with spacious 10-foot ceilings and—for an added bonus—an additional fourth fireplace for warmth in even the coolest of temperatures. The basement is finished off with a sizable built-in wet bar, and for the devout fitness fanatic, a separate workout room lined with rubber flooring and a full tile bathroom. To top off the property’s appeal, one would be pleased to know this beautiful home is energy efficient with a state-of-the-art Geothermal HVAC system and back-up generation, and is accompanied by a home security system.
Those seeking the ultimate in tranquility will be hard pressed to turn down 116 Oakwood Lane in Valley Forge. Nestled along the side of the Valley Forge Mountain among mature woods, guests will be greeted by a majestic gated entry, accentuating the home’s stately nature. A meandering driveway leads to an exquisite and meticulously crafted stone and wood home, or as Brittingham and McCouch state, a true modern contemporary.
A field stone wall foyer, hardwood floors, a stone detailed fireplace and the original wood beams are just a few of the home’s charming attributes responsible for its timeless design. Feet away, guests can find an open living room with voluminous vaulted ceilings, along with a grand family room and notable billiard room. Into the kitchen, polished granite countertops and detailed custom cabinetry create an inviting cooking and dining experience, in addition to the comfortable eat-in area overlooking the vast rolling valley behind the home. The first floor also includes a combination office or extra bedroom, accompanied by a half bath.
Up one flight to the second floor are two owner suites and a third bedroom, and up another flight of stairs to the third floor are another two bedrooms— meaning, potential guests of the future homeowner will have plenty of room, sans crowding, for a weekend stay. Plentiful natural lighting can be found in nearly every room of the home, and is an ideal home for entertaining with both its top notch interior features and exterior features.
Best described as a space for wine aficionados and true romantics, the lower level of this Valley Forge gem boasts a wine cellar with ample room for hundreds of bottles, and includes a quaint tasting area to sample and sip the finest of wines. The exterior of the home is not short on luxury features either; ideal for the upcoming summer season, the exterior includes a three-tiered cedar deck with a built-in gas grill, wet bar and a stone pit fireplace. Guests looking to step away from the action can take a few steps down the naturally weathered and moss-covered steps to a secluded patio overlooking a trickling stream, and over $400,000 worth of professional landscaping and accent lighting. Similar to the exterior features of the Malvern estate, the home has a home security system, as well as a three-car garage and spring house.
Both of these properties are represented by Brittingham and McCouch at the Keller Williams Realty Group in Limerick.
Since the opening of Keller Williams Realty Group in April 2002, Brittingham and Mc- Couch have worked through a multitude and variety of home transactions, and their character and professionalism have made them and their office one of the top real estate businesses in the United States. Community and civic responsibility are a priority for them too. They had ownership in “Afleet Alex”, an American thoroughbred race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. They have volunteered their expertise as a sponsor of Red Day, a Keller Williams event offering a day of community service by all staff and agents. Additionally, one of their largest fundraising events for pediatric cancer is the Annual Keller Williams Golf Tournament for “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” of which they raised $32,000 in 2016 alone.
Their devotion to clientele and the industry has not gone unnoticed; some of their honors and awards include being voted one of America’s Most Referred Realtors, membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Club—more than 920 transactions closed and $200 million worth of real estate closed between 1998 to 2017—and both have been consistently ranked among the top one percent of realtors nationwide for the past 15 years. For more information, please call (610) 574-9271. Buyers looking for a mortgage can contact Adam Waldman at Presidential Mortgage at (610) 792-3922. The entire mortgage process, from origination to closing, is performed locally.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life Magazine, May, 2017.
