Very few people decide to sell their homes, ‘just because.’ In most cases, selling your home is triggered by a life event. Maybe it’s a new job, a growing family, the desire to be located in a better school district, or simply feeling like your current home is no longer serving your lifestyle.
In January 2019, I found out I was pregnant with our first child – JUST after I had settled into my newly renovated home in Parkdale. My boyfriend at the time had purchased a triplex in Riverdale & with the news, we decided to convert it to a single-family home. I loved Parkdale, but the thought of pushing a stroller around Queen and Landsdown gave me pause. We were DEFINITELY moving.
When my dad died in 2022, my husband (yay, we got married by then & had two kids!), my mom was left alone. As an only child, I felt a sense of duty to care for her forever… so we began scouting for our big house that would fit my growing family and mom! We sold our Riverdale home & found the next one in late 2023. We are still currently working on the project, and Mom is scheduled to move in later this year! I love multigenerational living.
Whatever the reason, when you decide to sell your home, you are setting into motion a series of exciting and, let’s be real here, stressful events. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the idea of selling your home. All of a sudden, your to-do list went from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye.
When you have things like piano lessons, soccer practice, volunteer obligations, and that seemingly elusive work-life balance, the idea of adding a home sale to the pile can feel insurmountable.
That is, until you tag in the right real estate agent to help.
In my 17+ years in Toronto real estate, I’ve helped my clients navigate every situation under the sun. But that’s not the only reason why you should trust me with your next home sale.
If you’re looking for a top Toronto real estate agent to truly maximize the sale of your home, keep on reading. Here are the reasons to sell your next Toronto home with Danielle in the City.
I’ve Seen it All
I started this career in 2009 – the tail end of the 2008 US Financial crisis – I walked into a dead party, I was 23 years old, and no one wanted to talk about real estate ( especially not with someone so young). But I knew there would be an upside, and learning about the ugly side of real estate gave me great perspective. In 2017, we saw yet another fallout – clients were struggling to sell from May 2017 to 2019. But we walked them through the fire and they eventually found stable ground.
Like with all downward markets, sellers suffer the most. The race to the bottom is not a contest I like participating in. So instead of focusing on the lowest price strategy I focus on added value. These past 2 years have been very difficult for many neighbourhoods but we’ve been able to counteract that with our ability to renovate.
Example 1: From a Full Year on the Market to Sold in Two Weeks
Take a property we sold on Auburn this year. It was on the market for a full year in 2025, and it didn’t sell. I came in in early 2026 and told the seller that we were going to need to renovate if it ever wanted to change hands. I took a look at its shortcomings and decided to tackle them. There was no sizable Primary bedroom closet (so I added a large Pax). The kitchen looked dated, so I painted the cabinets, changed the counters and the faucet. The Bathroom looked sad, so I installed a new vanity, changed the floor tiles and got a new mirror and light. These weren’t HUGE changes, but they were enough to make the home look fresh, and it worked. After 2 weeks on the market, the home sold for a price the seller was happy with.
Example 2: Putting My Industry Hookups to Good Use
Back in 2018, my friend’s mother called me in a panic – she had begun a large renovation, and she couldn’t afford to finish it. This woman was destitute, and she needed my help both emotionally and financially. I was able to work with her lawyer in lending her the necessary funds to complete the project and called in a few favours to make it less expensive. The property was finished and then was sold a month later. My older client got to move on to her new life, and I felt satisfied knowing I played a part in that process.
Over the years, many simple issues have arisen during the selling process. Being reactive (when we weren’t proactive enough) has been key to getting our sale across the finish line. A bedroom in a house off the Danforth was feeling “small” to buyers, so we changed the bed size. A home in Roncesvalles didn’t have parking – so we canvased the neighbourhood to find permanent parking with a local resident.
Speaking of the market, I have a knack for timing and identifying trends and patterns long before the news catches up, giving you an advantage when it comes to positioning your home for a fast and profitable sale. For more on what you can expect in the market this year, check out my annual market predictions.
I Know What You Need
As a homegrown Torontonian, I have watched the city change dramatically over the decades. That whole “you have to know where you come from to know where you’re going” adage applies here. I have a knack for understanding what the “Good Toronto Vibes” are. I know how to build a beautiful life in many neighbourhoods based on commercial and retail amenities, great schools, compatible demographics, access to private services, and the inside scoop on off-market homes for sale. I can convey this to potential buyers effectively.
Learning about construction and real estate from a very early age (my parents were in the sales and building industry) has helped me have an edge over agents my age who got into the business later or who come from a very different career background. I’m able to identify construction needs, have the trades and services to enhance properties and am able to “talk build and design” with confidence through my marketing and promotion of properties.
Now, as a mother of children in both private and public schools, I have a comprehensive knowledge of the best streams, where children belong, how to and who to talk to and why. Making sure a family is set up for success based on the neighbourhood they choose helps me sell properties faster.
My experiences make me an asset for any type of home seller, but these unique insights make me even more valuable to sellers with very specific niche needs. It’s one of the reasons why I’m one of the top real estate agents in Toronto for medical professionals.
Looking for more than just home-selling advice? Check out these posts next to curate your Toronto lifestyle:
- Toronto’s Top Private Clubs
- Hiring a Housekeeper or Nanny in Toronto
- Where to Find the Best Private Schools in Toronto
I’m Your Neighbour
Every real estate agent worth their salt will tell you to work with someone local when selling your home. There’s no way to truly know what’s going on in Toronto’s micro-markets without actually having boots on the ground.
When I walk into an open house in the East End of downtown and don’t recognize the agent, I know they could be in for potential trouble. The agent network in the affluent areas is small (like really, really small), and we chat daily about upcoming listings off-market. We wave to each other when we pass on Logan Ave before submitting an offer on their place that evening. Having relationships with other agents is KEY to successful transactions. If you want a smooth negotiation, you’re going to need to know the personality and style of the person you’re going head-to-head with (plus they might owe you a favour ;))
If you’re selling to buy somewhere else in the city, check out my post about Toronto’s Most Prestigious Neighbourhoods.
I’m a Renovation and Home Prep Expert.
My father was a residential builder, and I was a curious only child. I’ve been walking through construction sites for 30+ years and have a strong working knowledge of what quality looks like. In an instant, I can get a “feel” for a home that’s been constructed well before even seeing the systems that keep it working. In 100+ year old homes, it’s essential to understand components of yesterday as well as today. Why is radiant heating a positive for some families? What’s the best type of home foundation? How much does a mountable AC wall unit cost, and when can I get Vlad to install it? Do I need permission from the neighbours to touch the party wall for excavation in a semi? How long is the “fast track” for building applications? What does the committee of adjustments hearing date look like? What will it cost me to apply? There are so many components of construction and homes – and I know them all
Aside from suggesting major renovations for sellers to maximize value. I have a “facelift” approach for all of my houses going to market.
First off, I like to get a home inspection to identify major issues beforehand. We can repair or remedy them before potential buyers see them as a deterrent.
After repairing the structural or systematic components, we assess the aesthetic. What was attractive 5 years ago isn’t today. Staying on top of design trends is essential for top-earning sales. Some of the regular renovations I suggest are
- Cabinet painting
- Hardware changes
- Appliance upgrades
- Wall painting
- Mirror and light swap-outs
- Decluttering
- Vanity swap-outs
- Landscaping (usually adding more plants than you think is necessary)
For older homes, we often replace or refinish floors, take down walls to open up rooms, or do a deeper landscaping.
All of these changes make a HUGE difference when prospective buyers come through. No lightbulb burnt out, no tarnished knobs.
When it comes to home renos, there are a few common questions I get asked time and time again. Get answers to these questions with these posts next:
- Should I Paint My Home Before Listing it For Sale?
- Should I Renovate Before Selling?
- How to Prepare Your Home For Sale
I Have Pricing Down to an Art and a Science
Of course, there is a science to pricing your home for sale. Looking at data is the starting point for any successful pricing strategy. But more than that, it’s a true art form. So much rides on getting the pricing right from the get-go; it takes more than just the ability to look up some comps and pick a number.
This is particularly true in Toronto’s luxury or unique home market.
When pricing a multi-million dollar property for sale in Toronto, I focus less on “finding market value” and more on engineering buyer psychology.
Smart investors are looking at protecting against downsizing risk ( is something negative happening in the home’s vicinity?). When pricing something in the 3M+ range, buyers are looking for a story, a lifestyle and not just “a valuable dwelling”. They want the status symbol that goes along with the purchase. Buyers aren’t necessarily fixated on the number of bedrooms or square footage but on the architectural integrity, flow and finish level.
Additionally, luxury buyers in Toronto are sophisticated and sensitive to time on the market. Good properties sell fast, even at the 4m mark, so pricing it correctly the first time is essential. If you price wrong (too high), you’ll make less than you did if you had priced it the first time correctly. Simply put, overpricing a property destroys the urgency to see it and offer on it.
[Discuss your approach to pricing and touch on some of the things you wish to mention in the Pricing Multi-Million Dollar Homes For Sale in Toronto: Why You Need to Get it Right the First Time post and the Appraisal Vs. Market Value in Luxury Homes – when they are done, we will link them here]
A good pricing strategy is the foundation of a successful sale. See what I’m talking about by reading our recent client reviews and testimonials.
When I Say, ‘Full Service,’ I Mean It
‘Full-service’ has become an adjective almost every agent in the GTA uses to describe what they do. But the fact is that, while many say they are full-service, there are a lot fewer who actually put their money where their mouth is.
The top real estate agents in Toronto are simply built differently. And what we do to ensure a smooth and effortless experience is a lot different than what other agents do. Not all Toronto real estate agents are created equal.
When I say Full service, I mean – your hands are off the project. Saying “hand me the keys” and “I’ll call you when it’s ready” are sentences that allow me to do my job at its highest level without unnecessary interference. A complete package with my team includes the coordination and oversight of trades and renovations, architectural digest-worthy media content creation, Multi-channel marketing, comprehensive analysis and formatted feedback. Simple things like turning on and off the lights at the beginning and end of the day. Cutting the lawn for you when you’re not living in the home. Presenting fresh flowers each week to make showings more enjoyable, adjusting the climate inside, and being present for showings if you request it. Whatever makes you feel like you are getting a 4 Seasons style service is what we aim to do.
In the past, we have done some pretty impressive things for our selling clients. On Multiple occasions, we have sent clients to our home in Florida for the week the house was on the market, or paid for an Airbnb so they wouldn’t be disturbed. Renting a storage locker and organizing movers for decluttering is part of our standard process, too.
Also, something important to note. I love children, and I aim to make sure their lives are as uninterrupted as possible during the selling process – and I always have snacks in my purse.
I Have Your Back Until the Very End
Once your place is sold, I’m there until the closing and beyond. My full-time assistant Paige will act as your liaison between lawyers, lenders, insurance providers, and contractors. We arrange for move-out cleaners, moving companies and anything else you could possibly need. For me, Real estate is a vocation and passion. Creating a smooth transition out of your home brings me great satisfaction.
Ready to Sell?
Whether you’re in the early stages of thinking about selling or you’re ready to get started right now, I’d love to chat more about your plans and goals and how I can help make them a reality.
You can get in touch with me by booking an appointment, requesting a home evaluation, or if you’re looking for immediate assistance, you can text me or email me directly.
