Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
52 Salisbury Ave., Toronto
Asking price: $2,295,000 (August, 2024)
Previous asking price: $2,499,000 (March, 2024 and November, 2023) *under previous agent
Selling price: $2.26-million (September, 2024)
Previous selling price: $400,000 (February, 2000)
Taxes: $8,934 (2024)
Property days on market: 158
Listing agents: Paul Maranger and Christian Vermast, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
Built in 1895, the Victorian semi was expanded and modernized with crown mouldings and a gas fireplace in the living and dining area.Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
The action
This semi-detached house near Riverdale Park didn’t receive a single offer when listed for sale at an asking price just shy of $2.5-million last winter. A new team of realtors was brought in this summer who recommended new staging, new photography online and a lower price. Within two weeks, five potential buyers had booked tours of the house and one made an offer. That bidder came back a week later to remove some conditions to the offer and seal a deal for $35,000 under the asking price.
“We did adjust the price, but also had it staged,” said agent Paul Maranger.
“Usually, there’s a burst of listings after Labour Day, so we wanted to circumvent that and try to see who was out there.
“Our timing certainly worked.”
The eat-in kitchen was remodelled with quartz countertops and cork flooring.Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
What they got
This three-storey Victorian was built in 1885, and was expanded and modernized more recently with crown mouldings and a gas fireplace in the living and dining area.
The eat-in kitchen was remodelled with quartz countertops and cork flooring, as well as an exposed brick wall, a second fireplace, skylights and patio doors to a deck, shed and parking at the back of the 17- by 97-foot lot.
The second floor has two bedrooms and an office. The primary bedroom has vaulted ceilings, a rooftop deck and one of the home’s three bathrooms.
The basement has a recreation area and a wine cellar.
The rear of the 17- by 97-foot lot includes a deck, shed and parking.Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
The agent’s take
“It’s smack dab in the middle of prime Cabbagetown, and it’s a very quiet street, so there’s no through traffic,” Mr. Maranger said.
“You’d think you were in England, not Toronto.”
“They did renovations that were sympathetic to the history of the house,” Mr. Maranger said.
“Most houses you have higher ceilings on the main floor, and they drop as you go up, but this was the opposite. The highest ceiling was on the third floor.”
Editor’s note: (Oct. 9, 2024): This article has been updated to correct details of the buyer's offer on the home.