The four-bedroom home at 973 Stonington Road in Stonington, Connecticut had only been on the market for a few days when listing agent Donald Boushee — a Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby's in Niantic — took some time introduce the property to Welcome Home.

"This is the kind of home that's set back off the road, and when you drive in, it's like stopping the world and letting you off for a while," he said.

"As soon as you walk into the foyer, you've got the amazing balcony and beautiful staircase, with gleaming hardwood floors," Boushee described the entry to the home's 3,868 square feet of living space. "The back of the house looks out to the saltwater pool and terrace. There's a gas-fired fireplace right in the center of the formal dining room — so many wonderful details."

Boushee also suggested that the floor plan as it's laid out provides some flexibility to a buyer and that the house works for a family or a buyer who plans to have a home business, who enjoys entertaining, or perhaps needs room for extended family to visit or stay.

Boushee also introduced Welcome Home to his client, Gary Haynes, who acquired the property with his wife, Delayn, in 2007, when it was still new. It had been custom built a few years earlier by a local developer.

In recent years, they've each had a home office here — one on the main level and one on the second floor, according to their Realtor — another example of how the floor plan can be adapted to a buyer's needs now and in the future.

The homeowners made a number of improvements to the property over the years. For example, they renovated the primary suite's bath and closet. Their Realtor recounted a prospective buyer's recent comment about the primary bedroom suite offering more than just a bathroom, instead, "an experience."

They also perfected the backyard, adding a heated saltwater pool and spa, as well as a built-in fire pit. Boushee estimated that his clients have invested more than $15,000 in the landscaping alone, adding plants and shrubs and building stone walls and walkways.

The listing agent described the effect as "like an oasis or retreat."

Haynes noted that he himself comes from a large family, and when his family came to visit, they referred to the property as "Spa Haynes."

A perimeter of mature trees envelopes the property, so that it's particularly private and attracts all varieties of passing-through wildlife — foxes, fisher cats and turkeys, Haynes reported.

"When you're sitting by the pool, you've got trees all around, so it's pretty private," the homeowner attested.

The house was already appended with an attached two-car garage, but the Haynes are fans of traveling the country in their Airstream trailer, so they added a second, detached garage with an oversized bay to accommodate it and the truck to haul it. It's heated and air-conditioned.

Mr. Haynes said the house was "well loved" by his family. He added that the location is particularly compelling. It's just 10 minutes to Westerly, Rhode Island, or to Mystic right "next door." They've spent time at local beaches, including the public beach at Watch Hill. They've also enjoyed being close to local marinas and having direct access to Long Island Sound. They've had three boats over the course of their years here.

"This home is five minutes from the Barn Island boat launch. You come out of the driveway and have the water right in front of you, which leads out to Long Island Sound," the listing agent said.

"This whole section of shoreline is just beautiful," Boushee concluded.

A public open house is planned for this weekend, on Saturday, February 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Property: 973 Stonington Rd., Stonington

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 4

Square Footage: 3,868

Acreage: 2.07

Asking Price: $1.1 million

Seller's Agent: Donald Boushee, William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty, Niantic brokerage; Office: (860) 572-6400; Mobile: (860) 772-6050; dboushee@wpsir.com