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This $750,000 suburban home is so controversial, real estate sites have censored the listing. Take a look inside the '50 Shades of Maple Glen' home

Feb 13, 2019, 23:50 IST

Courtesy of Gary Schempp Photography

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  • The listing of a four-bedroom home in suburban Pennsylvania, currently for sale for $750,000, attracted attention last week on social media when one of its unique features came to light.
  • Its basement is renovated into a sex playroom complete with a caged bed, aerial swing, whips, and other BDSM (which stands for bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) sexual aids.
  • The home's listing agent, Melissa Leonard at Coldwell Banker Preferred, has dubbed the home "50 Shades of Maple Glen" in homage to the popular erotic romance novels and films.
  • Leonard told Business Insider that she's never seen anything like this in her life.
  • It's stirred up controversy in the real estate community, so much so that shortly after the home was listed, the listing service took down the verbiage and photos depicting the room.
  • Leonard said neighbors also asked her to take the listing down.
  • Take a look inside the home and its subterranean sex chamber.

The home at 1612 Norristown Road in Maple Glen, Pennsylvania, looks charming and tame enough.

The house is situated on a private street, with only a few other homes nearby.

The town of Maple Glen is also relatively small.

You've got your typical colonial-style, two-story house with a red brick exterior.

There's a spacious backyard ...

... complete with a gazebo ...

... and the interior is equally conventional.

But there's something about this house that sets it apart from the others ...

... and it may have something to do with the full-blown sex dungeon taking up the entire basement floor.

Props and materials for BDSM play, like whips, chains, and an aerial swing, fill the space.

Leonard told Business Insider that the playroom was added on within the past year.

The feature was described as a "private adult sexual oasis" when the property was first listed.

Leonard also dubbed the home "50 Shades of Maple Glen" in homage to the popular erotic romance novels and films.

Shortly after the home was listed last week, it went viral, with many taking to social media to express amusement over the sex chamber.

Source: Dan McQuade/Twitter

But within 24 hours of posting the home, Leonard told Business Insider that the listing service removed the verbiage and photos of the playroom because it was deemed inappropriate.

So now the listing is described as a "one of a kind suburban home" — which is still pretty accurate, let's be honest.

Leonard said that as far as home add-ons go, a full-floor sex playroom is not common.

"I've never seen this in my life," Leonard told Business Insider.

Leonard said that "most realtors take out what makes homes unusual," but she and the owner wanted to embrace the property's unique feature.

But as a result, Leonard said the neighbors are not thrilled about it.

In fact, she said they weren't even aware of the sex playroom's existence or proximity to them until the listing went viral last week.

"They're very angry," Leonard told Business Insider.

According to Leonard, the neighbors are afraid that the sex play pin will attract someone who's only into that kind of lifestyle.

She said they even implored her to take the images down before the listing service eventually did.

But Leonard said she's simply doing her job by showcasing the home as the owner intended.

"I don't think they really have the right to be upset," Leonard said about the angry neighbors.

Especially, she said, since the basement can be renovated back into something more standard if the prospective owners choose.

"It can just be a typical home if someone wants it to be that way," Leonard told Business Insider.

But since the home comes fully furnished, the buyers would first inherit the room as is before making any changes if they wish.

As far as the owner is concerned, Leonard said he's excited about the publicity the home has garnered, despite the residents' ire.

The suburban town has a population of 6,837 people.

Source: Data USA

It's about a 40-minute drive from Philadelphia ...

... and an hour and 40 minutes away from New York.

It's definitely not the first place you'd think you'd find something like this.

Leonard said she didn't know the designer who came in to construct the playroom, but the owner, who is accustomed to that particular lifestyle, knew who to turn to.

The rest of the home is conventional and elegant.

There are four bedrooms in the home — five, if you count the one in the basement ...

... and two and a half bathrooms.

It has a gym for more, ahem, conventional exercise.

The home was built in 1997.

Source: Coldwell Banker

In addition to the basement and the two stories, the home also has an unfinished attic.

You can currently spend a night in the home for $750, Leonard said.

And if you want the home all to yourself, it's listed on the market for $750,000.

Source: Coldwell Banker

With all the attention the property has gotten, the home may not be for sale for long.

"I hope we get a nice suburban family," Leonard said.

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