Done Deal, 31 Edwalter Ave., Toronto
31 EDWALTER AVE., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $629,000
SELLING PRICE $736,000
TAXES $4,514 (2011)
DAYS ON THE MARKET 10
LISTING AGENTS: Theodore Babiak and Adrian Needham, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
The Action: This detached, Cape Cod-style residence in Sunnylea was repainted, decluttered and lightly staged before sale. The improved presentation lured 50 to 75 buyers to two open houses and compelled seven to return with an offer, including one $107,000 over the asking price.
What They Got: This 60-year-old house features a 1,360-square-foot plan, including separate living and dining rooms, an eat-in kitchen and three bedrooms with hardwood floors, plus a 710-square-foot basement with seven-foot ceilings in the fireside recreation room, a second bathroom and side entry off the private drive and garage.
To enjoy the outdoors, there is a south-facing backyard with a stone patio, open lawn and trees along the perimeters of the 40-by-141-foot lot.
The Agent's Take: "This had a big lot – it's bigger than average – and was really deep," agent Theodore Babiak said. "Several houses on that street – and in that whole pocket of Sunnylea – have been knocked down and new houses built, so there were two types of buyers looking at this."
But builders – often known to create new $1.2 to $1.4-million properties in the area – lost out to buyers who will reside there and enjoy amenities nearby, such as Park Lawn school, park and rink down the street.
"There's also another school in the area – a French language school – where the kids have to have at least one French-speaking parent," says Mr. Babiak, referring to Sainte Marguerite d'Youville on Royal York Road. "That school is a draw, as are other schools."