The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
CAN YOU DREAM IT?
Inaugural YMCA Dream House tour yields rave reviews during first day
Yvette McKee of Cleveland Heights missed last year’s deadline to get tickets for the Lake County YMCA Dream House. She wasn’t going to let that happen this year.
“It is amazing — so beautiful,” she said, as she and her family toured the 2017 home at 5295 SOM Center Road in Willoughby on July 1, the first day tours were available.
“We were driving here saying we would take the payment, but now we’ll take the house!” she said.
The lucky winner at the final drawing at 2 p.m., Aug. 13 can choose to keep the home or opt for $250,000 in cash. The house and furnishings are
The lucky winner at the final drawing at 2 p.m., Aug. 13 can choose to keep the home or opt for $250,000 in cash.
valued at $500,000, according to FAQs from Dream House organizers. Tickets are $15 apiece or $13 for three or more.
“There’s been a lot of presale tickets online,” said Clint Simmons, West End YMCA branch executive. His branch is handling the first week of tours.
There was a steady stream of visitors commenting enthusiastically on various attributes of the abode.
“Definitely everyone loves the house,” Simmons said.
This year’s model is a two-story Colonial with 5,000 square feet of living space (basement included) on a half-acre lot. It offers an open floor plan with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a great room, office/studio, secondfloor laundry, morning room, entertainment center, yoga/workout room, three-car garage, an outdoor patio and custom landscaping.
Guests praised the color schemes, granite countertops and generous drawer, closet, storage and cupboard spaces. The sleek, modern decor was an obvious score as well.
Jennifer Gdovin of Parma and her mother, Carolyn Durica of Seven Hills, noted the basement room set aside for fido — complete with a “doggy” shower — and the entertaining possibilities on the backyard patio.
“I just remodeled my home in Seven Hills,” Durica said. “If I did win, I’d have to think about it.”
Gdovin added, “This is my house. I’m using the power of the mind (to win).”
Tours run 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week through Aug. 6. Those 18 years old and older must purchase a Dream House ticket to tour the home.
The semifinal drawing for the house — along with a 2017 Chevy Malibu provided by The Chevy Network/Classic Chevrolet in Mentor — is 7 p.m., Aug. 9.
Tickets are available at all YMCA branches, at the home during tour hours, by calling 440-354-5656 or online at lakecountyymca.org.