Full Circle for a Family Legacy

I first sold this unique Skead property to Candace and Dean in 2018. It had originally belonged to Candace’s family since it was built, but was sold out of the family in 2013. After a failed renovation and power of sale, it ended up in CMHC’s hands. We secured it at a fair price — a strategic buy with long-term value in Skead.

When it came time to sell a few years later, this wasn’t going to be a simple small-town listing. In a community like Skead, stories travel fast, and this home already had rumours attached to it. That meant the strategy had to go beyond great photos and a sign on the lawn — it had to be built around clarity, documentation, and trust.

Tenant-Occupied, But Styled to Sell

By 2021, it was time to sell. The property, just minutes from Lake Wanapitei, was tenant-occupied — but the tenant had a great eye for design. A simple staging consult and pro photography plus a 3D Matterport tour made the home shine.

Because the home was already beautifully decorated, we didn’t need to overcomplicate the presentation. Instead, we focused on capturing it properly with strong media — photos, drone, and Matterport 3D — so buyers could appreciate both the charm of the home and the setting around it before they ever booked a showing.

Rumours, Remediation, and Reassurance

There were two major rumours working against this home: that it had been condemned because of structural concerns, and that it had suffered from a heating fuel oil leak. The second part had some truth to it — a leak had occurred after an HVAC technician caused a spill — but the cleanup was handled through the TSSA, with all laws and regulations followed properly.

At the time, my advice to the sellers was simple: protect yourselves with independent documentation. I recommended they retain a third-party consultant working for them, not for anyone else involved, so they had their own professional record of what had been done and where they stood.

• ✔ TSSA remediation completed in accordance with regulations
• ✔ Engineer’s report confirming the home was structurally sound
• ✔ Report registered on title for full transparency
• ✔ Well water test confirming no contamination

That changed the conversation entirely. Instead of asking buyers to ignore rumours, we gave them facts, documentation, and confidence.

Overwhelming Buyer Interest

Listed during peak COVID protocols, every showing slot for this Skead home filled quickly. We extended showings by 2 days and received 18 offers.

That kind of response told the real story. Even with rumours floating around, buyers responded when the truth was presented clearly, the home showed well, and the process was handled properly. We extended the viewing window to make sure everyone had a fair opportunity to see the property and access the same information before offers were reviewed.

Sold at $260,000 in Skead

The sale brought closure to a long family story and proved that with strategy, transparency, and strong marketing, even the most complex sales can succeed in Greater Sudbury’s communities.

This one is a great reminder that the best answer to uncertainty is not avoidance — it’s preparation. By getting ahead of the rumours, backing everything up with independent reports, and putting the facts in front of buyers from day one, we were able to turn a potential obstacle into a sale that far exceeded what many would have expected.

For buyers watching this price range, explore current opportunities in the Under $500K Hot Sheet.

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