You might think high-end properties would be luxurious enough to sell themselves, but Ottawa-Gatineau’s cross-border realtor Danny Dawson knows better.
Whether the high-end property you’re selling is located in Ottawa or Quebec, Dawson says getting top dollar takes more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
“We’ve partnered with Ardent Media to craft a high-end, custom marketing strategy for each property,“ he said. “So prospective buyers can discover every detail from anywhere in the world.”
Dawson also accesses a nation-wide market through his membership in Royal LePage’s Chairman’s Club, an award that recognizes the top one per cent of the brokerage’s realtors in Canada — many of whom specialize in luxury real estate.
This network quickly connects Dawson to colleagues with prospective buyers in centers like Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, a critical tool for raising the profile of the comparatively smaller market in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Why competing in the luxury market takes a custom approach
“Selling a luxury property is not something you can do in a week,” said Dawson. “It’s why we offer a higher, more organized and strategic level of service.”
One of the most important factors is timing, which is why Dawson recommends starting the preparation process 6-12 months in advance.
“It allows us to start our work on the marketing, like taking exterior photos while the pool is open and the garden is in full bloom,” said Dawson. “Having enough lead time also helps relieve stress for the homeowner.”
A recent record-breaking sale on Quebec’s Meech Lake/Lac Meech
But great photos that showcase properties are just one of Dawson’s tools. Others include 3D floor plans, like the one used in this record breaking Meech Lake sale, or next-level videos, like the one that just sold 107 Arbourbrook Boulevard in Ottawa.
The high-end service you receive could include bringing in the right furniture for staging and connecting homeowners with Dawson’s network of local professionals for repairs or a coat of paint.
But the cost for these services is entirely covered by his commission, saving the homeowner money as well as the time and hassle it takes to coordinate an army of pros to handle everything.
The final but perhaps most important tool in his kit is having the wisdom and experience to know when ‘custom’ means going against the grain.
Like the way he’s selling this idyllic Howl Hill farmhouse in Quebec. Instead of following the typical industry standard of depersonalizing a property, Dawson leaned into its history with a video interview of a former owner, who talked about what it was like to grow up on the farm.
Currently for sale in Quebec: Howl Hill Farm
And he applies the same wisdom with luxury investment properties, like this turn-key triplex currently for sale in Gatineau at 24 Rue Hanson.
Staying connected to the community
In addition to zeroing in on his clients’ specific needs, one of Dawson’s core values is focusing on his role in the community.
It’s why he’s a big supporter of Royal LePage’s commitment to raise funds for women’s shelters, a critical housing need for any community.
Dawson and 120 other Royal LePage professionals from across Canada will be taking ‘bold steps with big hearts’ in November to support the company’s Ecuador Challenge for Shelter. Participants have already raised over a million dollars nationally.
In the past these intrepid trekkers left behind the comforts of home to hike through “the Purcell Mountains (2021), across the Sahara Desert (2019), through the southern highlands of Iceland (2017), and towards the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu (2015).”
If you’d like to chat with Dawson about the best way to sell your luxury property, contact him here.
