The Story Behind The Sale | 193 Dawlish Ave, Lawrence Park South
SOLD : $4,802,000.00
4 Beds | 3 Baths | Lot: 50' x 169'
"193 Dawlish is a timeless classic home that pays tribute to the simplistic elegance of the Lawrence Park homes of a bygone era."
It started with a Lease and incredible clients.
The home was tired and dated. The wallpaper told stories of years past, but the clean and sunny space made a compelling case that this house was waiting to be reborn. My clients had been planning to rent out the home, and as a result, it sat vacant when I arrived. This allowed me to view the house naturally, like a blank canvass. For any home to undergo a successful glow-up, methodical cosmetic updates were encouraged. After all, it was essential to us all that it garnered top dollar. After multiple consultations regarding price, updates and marketing, a game plan for moving forward was born.
Together, my trusted contractors and the homeowners began working on the list of updates. My client's commitment to this process and ability to keep an open mind proved priceless and played a vital role in the eventual outcome. From the offset, our collective goal was to make the space light and airy, refreshing and appealing to a large pool of prospective renters. At this point, selling the house wasn't on the table.
After the contractors painted the space from top to bottom, they refinished the stairs, ripped up and replaced old carpet, added new light fixtures, a few new faucets, tiling flooring, a kitchen backsplash and more. Upon completion, the transformation was worthy of an HGTV episode.
(I've consulted and overseen many of these glow-ups, but this finished product revealed a genuinely exceptional transformation)
Many real estate agents will cut corners and costs when advertising a Lease listing because of office splits, marketing fees, taxes, etc. After it's all paid out, the margins can be admittedly small. But cutting corners? That's SMALL THINKING. Every listing reflects a Realtor's brand - regardless of price. So with the renovations complete...in came the best damn photographer I know. Twice.
The result?
Magazine quality photos, just the sort of attention-grabbing imagery that I knew we needed.
After advertising the lease and photos through my database and extraordinary office networks, it was time to hit MLS.
And boy, did we hit MLS.
Within hours of my sign going on the lawn, the calls poured in. Renters wanted the home for its access to prestigious schools, and numerous buyers wanted the house for its fantastic location, lot size and clean condition.
Now, remember, my client had no interest in selling the home at that time. So every agent who inquired about a purchase received the same message.
"My client is leasing the home because they don't need to sell. Because they don't intend to sell. I can't stop you from sending me an offer to purchase it, but if you're going to...keep that in mind."
In my experience, when you hold all the cards, the negotiation outcome can be quite favourable. And it was important to me that the "other side" knew where we stood. An uncompromising stance won't discourage the truly motivated buyer from playing their hand.
The result was not one but two offers for purchase - on the same day.
With fantastic opportunities on the table, my client accepted the stronger offer
So what's the takeaway here? What can we learn from this experience?
There will be a time when an opportunity comes knocking - in all of our lives. Sometimes you'll see it coming, and other times, you won't.
Some might call you LUCKY if you seize your opportunity, but as a Roman philosopher once said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."
As a Realtor, I prepare for life by furthering my education by focusing on expansion and networking. I prepare by improving my systems. By listening and engaging with potential clients. By asking questions. And in this case, by encouraging and consulting on the updating of a client's home and ensuring it was positioned to have a dramatic effect on its viewers.
So I ask you:
- What can you do today, to prepare for the next chapter of your life?
- What can you do to prepare for your next purchase or sale?
If you're considering buying, selling or investing in real estate, let's grab a coffee and find where your next opportunity.
Kind regards,
Jack Ross
Sales Representative
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