72 ELLIS PARK RD., TORONTO
ASKING PRICE $1,549,000
SELLING PRICE $1,530,000
PREVIOUS SELLING PRICES $837,000 (March, 2012) ; $327,000 (1997)
TAXES $4,935 (2012)
DAYS ON THE MARKET 13
LISTING AGENT Theodore Babiak, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
CO-OP AGENT Theodore Babiak and Kristofer Lawson, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
The Action: In Swansea, properties priced around $1.5-million can take four to six weeks to sell, according to agent Theodore Babiak.
But it took just two weeks to find a buyer for this two-storey residence largely based on the fact that homes directly across from High Park are rarely put up for sale, much less contemporary ones like this.
What They Got: In the past few months, an older home on a 30-by 110-foot lot was redesigned and expanded by z axis design – helmed by architect Paul Fantauzzi and designer Esther Cheong – into a 2,056-square-foot house with updated operating systems and upscale style, including Mondrian-style windows and steel, glass and walnut finishes.
Several walls were knocked down throughout the main floor, effectively using the kitchen to separate the rear dining area and a front living space with a gas fireplace and new French doors to a terrace overlooking High Park.
The 1,034-square-foot basement also boasts an open recreation area, extra bedroom and access into an oversized garage.
The second floor was modified to allow for laundry facilities and three bedrooms, including a master suite with cathedral ceilings and the largest of four bathrooms with a skylight, twin sinks, whirlpool tub and frameless shower stall.
The Agent's Take: "There are a few really good examples of contemporary stuff happening there," says Mr. Babiak. "[The sellers] spent a lot of time on details and figuring things out, like the layout and the materials they used."
The design firm also furnished the interiors to show buyers how much room they could have for their own items.
"It still would have sold well without the furniture, but it set the stage for people coming in and seeing it's a contemporary space," Mr. Babiak notes.
"[Plus] there is over 3,000 square feet of living area, including the lower level, which is at grade, so it's a bit unusual in that way."
Editor's Note: Done Deals contain information gathered from real estate agents, home buyers, home sellers and sale prices that are publicly available from government sources. While we try to publish Done Deals as soon as possible after the transaction has occurred, long closings can cause delays.