How Michael John Lau sold a condo at 50 Forest Manor Rd in 37 days, after it sat for almost two years.
Suite 505 at 50 Forest Manor Rd, a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 775 sq ft condo with parking and a locker near Don Mills and Sheppard, had been on and off the market for close to two years. The sellers had no feedback, no plan and no results. Michael John Lau redefined the target buyer, rebuilt the marketing from scratch, staged the unit for that buyer's lifestyle, and told the home's story with video, cinematic photography and social campaigns. Interest arrived within days. The unit sold in 37 days for $540,000 against a $549,990 list.
The deal, in six lines.
- Client
- Condo owners who were frustrated and exhausted after almost two years of trying to sell
- Situation
- Expired listing with no feedback, no clear plan and no results; they did not know what was wrong, only that it needed to change
- Location
- 50 Forest Manor Rd, Suite 505, North York (Don Mills and Sheppard)
- Property
- Condo apartment, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 775 sq ft, 1 parking, 1 locker
- Timeline
- Relaunched with a redefined buyer, new staging, video and social campaigns; interest within days; sold in 37 days
- Result
- Sold for $540,000 against a $549,990 list price (98% of asking) after nearly two years unsold
Where were the sellers when they called?
Frustrated and exhausted. They had tried everything they knew to try, and nothing had worked. No feedback from showings, no clear plan from anyone, no results. Almost two years of a listing that went nowhere wears people down. They did not know what was wrong. They only knew they needed someone who could finally make things happen.
Why had the previous listings failed?
Michael started with the market rather than the unit. A two-bedroom condo near Don Mills and Sheppard competes with a lot of similar supply, and a listing that does not know who it is for gets lost in that supply. The previous attempts had no defined target buyer, marketing that was not reaching the people actually shopping in this area, and no staging that let a buyer picture their life in the space. The condo had not been rejected. It had never been properly presented to the right people.
What was the fresh approach?
Three decisions made before anything else. Michael analyzed the market and redefined the target buyer for this unit. He completely revamped the marketing strategy around that buyer. And the condo was staged to match the lifestyle of the buyers actually looking in the area, not a generic version of a two-bedroom condo.
How was the home's story told?
Lifestyle videos that captured attention online and showed how the unit lives, not just how it measures. Cinematic photography that showed every detail properly. And social media campaigns designed to reach motivated buyers where they were already scrolling. A listing that had been invisible for two years was suddenly everywhere its buyer was.
How did it end?
This time everything changed. Within days there was traffic, inquiries and genuine interest. Thirty-seven days after the relaunch, the condo that had sat for almost two years sold for $540,000, 98% of the $549,990 list price. More importantly, the sellers felt heard, supported and confident every step of the way. After two years, that mattered as much as the number.
What should someone else in this situation know?
Every home has a story. It just needs to be told the right way, to the right people.
If your property has not sold, it is usually not the market. It is the strategy. Before another price cut, ask who the buyer for your home actually is, whether they have ever seen it, and what they saw when they did. The same unit that sat for two years sold in five weeks once those three questions had real answers.
Questions people actually ask.
Why did 50 Forest Manor Rd #505 sit on the market for almost two years?
The sellers had no feedback, no clear plan and no results from their previous attempts. The unit was not the problem; the strategy was. No defined target buyer, marketing that was not reaching the people actually shopping in this area, and no staging that let a buyer picture living there.
What did Michael John Lau change?
He analyzed the market and redefined the target buyer for a two-bedroom condo at Don Mills and Sheppard, revamped the marketing strategy completely, staged the unit to match that buyer's lifestyle, and brought the home's story to life with lifestyle video, cinematic photography and social campaigns aimed at motivated buyers.
How long did it take to sell after the relaunch?
37 days. Traffic, inquiries and genuine interest began within days of the relaunch, and the unit that had sat for almost two years sold for $540,000 against a $549,990 list price, 98 percent of asking.
Is a condo that sold below list a good result?
For these sellers, yes. After nearly two years without a sale, a firm deal at 98 percent of list in 37 days converted a stalled asset into a closed one, and the sellers felt heard, supported and confident through the process. In a condo segment with heavy competing supply, that is what a strong relaunch delivers.
A conversation is just a conversation.
If your condo or house has been sitting, call or text Michael at (416) 700-0286 or book a consultation. He will tell you who your buyer is and why they have not seen your home yet.
Book a consultation Call (416) 700-0286Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® with eXp Realty, Luxury Division (License #4784577), serving Markham, York Region and the Greater Toronto Area. Case studies describe real transactions; client details are shared with permission and some identifying information has been withheld. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every sale or purchase depends on the property, the market at the time, and the client's goals. Nothing on this page is legal, tax or financial advice.