Roof Ripped Off, Huge Tree Destroyed at Clay Stapp’s $4.7M Listing on Inwood

Clay Stapp’s $4.75 million listing at 10323 Inwood suffered severe damage last night during the Oct. 20 EF-3 tornado that whipped into North Dallas about 9:15 p.m., decimating portions of Harry Hines Blvd. near Walnut Hill Lane, collapsing roofs and breaking glass at several DISD and private schools, and shuttering Thomas Jefferson High School for at least a year. Walnut Hill Elementary and Cary Middle School could be total losses. The storm decimated Preston Road and Royal Lane (the intersection remains closed) and pulled roofs off some of the most expensive homes in the city in the Strait Lane, Lennox Lane vicinity. The late Ross Perot’s estate is behind and to the north of this Inwood Road property, Brint Ryan’s is due west, and the sprawling acreage of R.J. Mc Reynolds, who bought the old Chateau De Triumph property as well as the Bud Oglesby at 10330 Strait Lane, to the southwest.

“The storm took the entire roof right off my listing,” said Clay Stapp. The home was built in 1999.

Clay says there is tons of water in the house from the ripped-off roof, and a huge, beautiful focal tree in the Harold Leidner-designed backyard looks like a lightning bolt went through it. 

So what does an agent do to help clients through such a tragedy?

“Get the roof covered fast,” he said, “and mitigate any damage, especially if the owners are out of town.”

Clay, like many agents, drove around this morning and checked all his listings.

“I couldn’t get to this one by car as the road (Inwood) is closed,” he said. “I got there by foot. You cannot even go into the house yet.”

As an agent, he is mostly thankful no one was hurt. Now he has to pull out his consoling agent shoulder: let clients know it will be okay, there is a silver lining, this home will be reconstructed and the house will be an even better place in a few months.

If the home is a total loss, the lot is still highly desirable.

“This is where an agent really needs to hold the client’s hands, provide subcontractors, and help make sure the insurance company is being fair,” says Clay. “This is when your resources really get tested and put to work.”

Clay says he had two parties ready to make offers this week.

The estate at 10323 Inwood is a 13,048-square-foot French Chateau on 1.2 acres of manicured lawns, with gardens and water features in Old Preston Hollow. A winding driveway traverses the property grounds, designed by renowned landscape architect Harold Leidner. The home has a dramatic foyer with marble floors, columns, and two-story floor-to-ceiling windows open to the beautiful backyard that runs along Bachman Creek. There are attached quarters for extended family and live-in help, which were also not occupied at the time.

In the backyard of Stapp’s gorgeous listing at 10323 Inwood, a beautiful tree was absolutely destroyed.

This picture just makes me want to cry. Here is what the backyard of this luscious lot looked like until 9 p.m last evening:

Editor’s note: While we were initially told by the broker that this home was unoccupied, we have since been informed by the owner’s attorney that it is occupied.