Where Your Condo Is Your Castle

Boutique Brokerage Treats Clients Like Royalty

Although it’s difficult to imagine now, King Street West in Toronto between Dufferin and Bathurst Street was an industrial wasteland just ten years ago. Passengers travelling on the King streetcar on their way downtown would see an unattractive streetscape of rundown stores and grimy, abandoned buildings.

Brave or Crazy?

When a small, independent real estate firm opened shop in the heart of this forgotten territory, some people thought they were brave. Others thought they were plain crazy. Even with its catchy name, Condos and Castles Realty seemed destined for failure.

A decade later, dozens of stunning new condominiums and converted lofts are testament to a completely rejuvenated neighbourhood. King West Village has become one of the It areas of the City. And the maverick real estate firm that started out here remains a key element in the King West success story.

Adventures in Real Estate

If hindsight is 20/20, visionaries must have rose-coloured glasses to see anything at all. When Paul Raszewski and his wife, Ella, cofounded Condos and Castles in 1998, the outlook was anything but rosy.

“Looking back, we must have needed some adventure in our lives!” jokes Raszewski. “It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but we had a strong sense that this was the right thing to do, the right place and time”. Ella Raszewski believed in the future of the area, despite having reservations in the beginning. “You could see the raw potential here in King West. We helped our first clients see that potential, and we’ve watched the community come to life around us.”

Wild, Wild King West

The transformation of King West from derelict to dynamic was initially sparked by a demand for housing close to downtown. Even a quick glance at Google Earth shows the area has enviable map co-ordinates. Pioneer businesses such as Condos and Castles Realty and developer UrbanCorp landed in the urban landscape. Soon, more settlers arrived.

Geoffrey Fulton, a realtor who’s been with the brokerage from those early days says that the neighbourhood was and is a magnet for urbanites. “It’s a neighbourhood and a destination. It’s a perfect storm of residential development, cool retail and fantastic social spaces.” The award-winning Fulton gives buyers, who are unfamiliar with the area, a giant windshield view from his Humvee. “They see that King West is a quick transit ride to the city core, it’s close to major thoroughfares, parks, bike paths and, of course, the lake”.

BIG VERSUS BOUTIQUE

With the area’s near-perfect reputation for livability, it wasn’t long before leading-edge realtors from Condos and Castles were joined by a legion of competitors from larger firms. But the competition from better-known, national brokers doesn’t bother Raszewski: “the competition has never been a concern. In fact, it demonstrates a healthy market and gives consumers a choice. Our core services, staffing and hours of operation are virtually identical to larger companies”.

Royal Treatment

Clients continue to choose the boutique brokerage because it offers the promise of personal service, a close-knit team and a clear understanding of the downtown condominium market. A reputation of outstanding service has given Raszewski’s firm the edge. “Our service philosophy and mission is to treat each and every client as royalty”, he explains. “We are small enough to care and large enough to provide unparalleled service”.

Condos and Castles Realty is comprised of a select team of professional realtors, support staff, lawyers and mortgage consultants which shares a desire to deliver customized and seamless service. The success of each client becomes the focus for the team. Yet clients are largely unaware of the work that goes on behind the scenes – a testament to the professionalism at work. Operating a small real estate company bucks the market trend towards large, institutional brokerages. Could it be that this rare commodity is the key to the firm’s continued success?

Condos and Castles? It’s All Real Estate, Baby

The catchy (and copyrighted) name of the company seems apt for the trend-setting clients it serves. “Some smaller firms use the family name”, Paul Raszewski laughs, “but ours has a few too many letters! We really wanted to sum up our service in a nutshell, and eventually hit upon Condos and Castles”.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a six-bedroom mansion or a studio loft, your home is your castle”, adds Ella Raszewski. That feeling pervades our company and is reflected in our name”. She is quick to point out, however, that the firm also represents people interested in buying and selling houses. And they have, in fact, had a castle on the market near Bourdeaux, France.

Fast Food or Gourmet?

Mark Gaudet, another award-winning agent with the firm, believes that buyers and sellers instinctively recognize the value of a boutique firm. “Big name conglomerates in real estate enjoy some success, just like franchised pizza operators. But investing in real estate is not an overthe- counter transaction. Clients deserve service that’s built around their unique needs. They want the gourmet pizza with special toppings!”

The boutique firm concept naturally attracts the type of clients that inhabit or want to inhabit downtown Toronto. Gaudet’s clients are “well-informed people who have a general goal in mind. The simply want a knowledgeable person, whom they trust, to show them how to achieve it. There are so many agents to choose from, so many garbage can ads, they are frankly thankful for the grassroots approach of Condos and Castles. And because we are more approachable, my clients and I are able to get things done right away”.

John Grabowski concurs. He has been with Condos and Castles for several years and has industry awards that demonstrate his success with clients. “Our grassroots image is genuine and people recognize that we are the real deal. As realtors, we are just as interested in the value of the neighbourhood as buyers and sellers are. Our love of King West comes through, and our clients benefit from that sincere appreciation and commitment”.

Condominiums Are Still King

The meteoric growth of King West Village and the corresponding influx of real estate brokers is a reflection of the boom market in Toronto over the past several years. Although there are signs of moderation, the condominiums in the area remain in high demand. And the unique services of the original boutique brokerage in King West remain in high demand as well.