The owner’s tour | A difficult house to leave in Château-Richer

Owners open the doors of their exceptional residence to us, offered on the resale market.

Life sometimes holds bad surprises. For sad health reasons, the owners of one of the most beautiful houses in Château-Richer, in the suburbs of Quebec, have to sell it, ending a trigenerational family life experience that began in 2012.

“We bought the house, me, my spouse, one of my sons and his spouse, says Suzanne Paquet, 75 years old. We were living in Old Quebec, in the shadow of the Château Frontenac, when we discovered her during a Sunday walk. My spouse said to me: “Well, I would live here!” My heart started beating, I answered: “Me too!” We contacted the agency and, as the house was too big for us, we decided to live in it with one of our children and his family. »

Prime location

Built in 1814, the house is located at 7168 Avenue Royale, one of the oldest thoroughfares in America. In this magnificent stretch of the royal road, between Côte-de-Beaupré and Boischatel. But also between the river and the first reliefs of the Lac Jacques-Cartier massif. An enviable location, 15 minutes from Quebec, 20 minutes from Mont-Sainte-Anne and 40 minutes from the Massif de Charlevoix.

Very bright, the house, which was already a gîte in the early 2000s, has 20 rooms, including 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. The rooms are large, with an 11 ft high ceiling. Adjoining the dining room, a centerpiece (corresponding to the first original building) is the favorite place of Suzanne Paquet and her spouse. “We call it our Scotch Room! she says. It’s a warm room, with a large fireplace and a exposed stone wall. In the evening, we eat there by candlelight. »

Upstairs is the apartment where Mrs.’s son lives.^me Paquet, his spouse and their three children. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

A few repairs

The building is heated by electricity and oil. It has three wood-burning fireplaces and a well-appointed kitchen. “I’m going to regret it,” said M.^me Paquet, who loves to cook. Overall, the property is in good condition, but the asking price, $1,150,000, takes into account the repairs needed despite renovations over the past 10 years.

“She lacked a lot of love,” says Suzanne Paquet. My spouse has invested body and soul in the renovations. If the sheet metal roof is in good condition, infiltrations have been observed (and resolved) in certain places. The original windows need weather stripping and the swimming pool needs to be restored. Just like a small chalet located near the swimming pool where there are two bedrooms.

“We were very lucky to be able to live watching our grandchildren grow up,” says Suzanne Paquet. We wish that on another family. It is an extraordinary happiness. Not to mention that this house has a soul. It is a real gem that could be used as a guesthouse again or transformed into an art gallery. It’s a shame to have to leave it, because we spent some extraordinary times there, especially during the pandemic. We were able to walk on the trails of the land. Just telling you this story, it makes us live emotions. »