The fire-ravaged property has attracted attention online.
Despite being a shell of its former self, this palatial southern villa commanded an enormous amount of interest – and quickly entered into contracts.
“Sad total loss from a classic mansion fire!” Unusual Listing Begins for Franklin, Tennessee Property That Will Immediately spread rapidly after public listing This month for $1.49 million. The lead image for the home — which lasted just a few days on the market before being scooped — is also bizarre: a picture of a white-columned manor on fire, with flames billowing from its roof and black smoke billowing into the sky.
Seller Danny Duvall told The Post the emotional story behind the fire, that image and the sale that followed, “This photo was taken moments after we arrived on scene … I stood there crying ” He and his wife, Paula Duvall, invested two years carefully renovating the lavish residence they built in 1997, only for a freak accident to destroy the property.
This happened in September, as workers were completing repairs to the library, when a small spark from a paint sprayer ignited fumes from the lacquer paint being used. “The whole room and house quickly went up in flames,” Duvall said.
The damage is hard to calculate because “this was no ordinary house,” but one “full of exquisite details,” most of which have been totaled—some of which were spared. The foundation can also be saved.
Their insurance carrier, Duvall, insisted on “walking with us every step of the way” in the aftermath of the disaster, but even then the couple were unsure how to recover from “such a devastating loss”. So they decided to move on from the house, selling everything as is. To their surprise, they were inundated with interested buyers, and the home was under contract with a new family after just two days.
“The new family plans to restore the home to its original splendor,” Duvall said. “I am thrilled to know that our home will soon be reborn and new life will rise from our destructive flames.”
However, despite being in contract, the couple continues to receive daily calls from interested parties.
In addition to the badly burned main house, the new family will also find a guest home untouched by the flames, with plenty of potential for expansion, and nearly 5 acres — complete with an outdoor kitchen and porch — on which to stand the structures .