By Gretchen A. Peck

The three-bedroom farmhouse-style colonial at 327 Montauk Avenue, New London, is offered to the market for $399,900, following a recent price reduction. Geoff Hausmann, a Realtor with RE/MAX On the Bay in Niantic, is the listing agent.

John Pearson, a New London resident and commercial roofer by trade, bought the property with the intention to renovate and “flip” it. Built in 1925, the 1,892-square-foot house suffered from “deferred maintenance” in recent years. However, Pearson saw the property’s potential and expected the location—in a neighborhood setting near the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Ocean Beach Park—would appeal to likely buyers.

Pearson explained how he approached this and other project properties. Rather than tearing older homes down, he likes to repair and elevate them.

“We think about what we can do to bring the house up to today’s standards while leaving it intact,” he said. “That’s what we did here. We gave it newer amenities, a new kitchen, new flooring, new baths—all the creature comforts that people want.”

The scope of the renovation work was extensive. Starting with the exterior, he replaced the siding with a low-maintenance vinyl substrate. His team rebuilt parts of the porch that had rotted. The covered porch is architecturally significant to the house, but it’s also practical in nature as an extension of the living space. Pearson suggested the buyer might add a ceiling fan, lighting and rocking chairs to it.

Pearson also installed new windows—26 in total, he recalled—and put on a new roof.

“We kept the front door, because it’s solid quarter-sawn white oak, with leaded glass,” he said. “And we fixed the screen door, keeping it for its charm.”

He also replaced some of the gutters and upgraded the electrical service.

Inside the house, he reworked the main-level floor plan a little. He opted to rework two powder rooms, creating one larger bath, instead. And he added a laundry room.

“There was a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room. We took that wall out, opening it up, and added a granite countertop that passes through to the dining room. Now, if you’re cooking in the kitchen, you can still entertain and talk to your guests,” he said.

He chose LG-brand appliances for the new kitchen, in stainless finishes. “There’s a gas stove and a refrigerator with water and ice inside. Without the sensors for those on the outside, it’s more sleek and more contemporary,” Pearson said.

In the living room, there’s a wood-burning fireplace for cozy ambience, but the owner noted that a buyer should do their due diligence and have it inspected and serviced before use.

Buyers will find both original Douglas fir and white oak floors among the two living levels.

On the second floor, there are three bedrooms and a shared full bath. There are two additional rooms—one that could be leveraged as a walk-in closet, and a second off one of the family bedrooms, which could be a playroom, office or homework room, perhaps.

The house also has a large unfinished basement.

The property’s driveway runs along the left side of the house, leading to a detached two-car garage. There are mature trees in the backyard and a gravel-filled patio area. “It’s low-maintenance,” he said. “If somebody doesn’t want to cut a big yard, this certainly cuts down on the amount of upkeep.”

Pearson remarked on the New London location, where he’s lived for 20 years. He owns three residential properties in New London and a commercial business, so he’s vested in the city’s future.

“New London gives you close proximity to Mystic, Noank and Stonington. There’s a lot to do right here, too, like Ocean Beach and Fort Trumbull. You’ve got Fort Griswold right across the river,” he noted.

“I love New London. It’s got a small city feel and you’re close to major shopping areas. It’s halfway between New York and Boston, which is very appealing to some people who may want to go there for long weekends. Newport is just a little over an hour away. You have proximity to all these places, plus we have the rail system here, which is great.”

Property: 327 Montauk Ave., New London

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 2

Square Footage: 1,892

Acreage: 0.20

Asking Price: $399,900

Seller’s Agent: Geoff Hausmann, RE/MAX On the Bay, Niantic; Mobile: (860) 625-5255; Office: (860) 443-4400; geoff@callthehouseman.com