Historic Home Blog

CONCIERGE AUCTIONS PLACES HISTORIC ROCKLAND ESTATE IN FAIRPLAY, MD UNDER CONTRACT PRIOR TO AUCTION

Widespread exposure generates the sale of a 25-Acre equestrian estate with an 8,600-square-foot manse four days before the auction date

Fairplay, MD - June 10, 2010 – The historic Rockland estate at 9030 Sharpsburg Pike, originally scheduled for auction on June 11th with a published reserve of $1.325 million, went to contract above the reserve amount four days before the scheduled auction date, marking Concierge Auctions’ second huge success with historic homes in Maryland in recent months, announced George Graham, CEO of the NYC-based luxury real estate auction firm. The pending sale is being conducted in cooperation with listing broker Gary Gestson of Long & Foster Real Estate, who’s also serving as the buyer’s representative.

“After selling the historic Tulip Hill estate in Harwood, Maryland at auction two months ago above the listing price with Concierge Auctions, we’re ecstatic to work together again on the sale of the Rockland estate. The auction exposure had such an enormous impact on the buyer pool, it went under contract before auction,” Gestson stated. “With heightened inventory levels and buyer trepidation in today’s tested real estate market, it is difficult to predict how quickly a property may sell via traditional brokerage methods, evidenced by the fact that Rockland had been listed since May 2009. For sellers who want to part with a real estate asset by a certain date and have the ability to allow the market to name a fair price, Concierge Auctions is a choice platform. We look forward to many more successful sales together in the days ahead.”

Originally listed for $2.75 million, Concierge Auctions’ advertising, PR and sales efforts for the 25-plus acre equestrian estate with an 8,600-square-foot manse generated 32 interested auction prospects and 2,347 visitors to the custom auction web site from every US state and 22 countries around the world. The ultimate buyer reigns from Texas.

“With the Rockland estate selling prior to auction and Tulip Hill selling above its previous list price, we’re thrilled to have achieved such success for our sellers of these significant historical properties in Maryland,” stated Graham. “The Concierge Auctions method is the way in today’s market to generate competition, as we present the most motivated sellers and set a deadline for buyers to act. The fact that we produced a buyer for Rockland who stepped up with such a compelling contract before the auction date is a testament to the power of our platform.”

The Rockland estate is located in scenic Washington County less than a 90-minute drive from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and approximately three hours from Philadelphia. Built circa 1803 by Colonel Frisby Tilghman, son of Maryland’s first attorney general, the three-story, seven bay stone and brick manse is listed on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Sites and is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

At one time, Rockland was the largest slave holding estate in Washington County. James W.C. Pennington, the famed abolitionist and author, escaped from slavery at Rockland in 1827. Given its important association to Pennington, Rockland has also been designated as an official site of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Today the 25-plus acres surrounding Rockland include a turnkey horse farm with lush fenced pastures. The sellers purchased the property in 2004 and completed many modern infrastructure improvements to the manse, including installing central air conditioning, extensively remodeling the kitchen and constructing a 3,000-bottle wine cellar in one of the basement rooms. Significant renovations were also made to the property’s smaller bank barn as well as installing fencing and establishing paddocks. Formal gardens and walkway surrounding the house were installed and more than 300 trees and shrubbery were planted.

Concierge Auctions is currently accepting applications from luxury sellers nationwide with premier, storied properties. The company’s innovative auction platform offers a 60-day disposition solution from engagement to closing. For more information about Concierge Auctions and its services please call 888-966-4759 or visit www.ConciergeAuctions.com.