Saturday morning a report surfaced that a local employee on Main St had tested positive for COVID-19 and word spread like wildfire. By Saturday afternoon, I received a notice that all Vail resorts, (Park City Mountain Resort) were closing for a week. This announcement was quickly followed by Deer Valley, Alta, Snowbird and Brighton announcing that they would also be suspending operations for at least a week. By Sunday evening, all resorts except for Brian Head in central Utah and Powder Mountain had announced that they were closing. On Sunday evening, Summit County came out to say that all of the county resorts, PC and DV, restaurants, churches, spas and most businesses would have to close until at least April 16, ending any hope that the ski season might continue. Restaurants would be allowed to deliver meals for curbside pick up only. The food markets would stay open as a necessity.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

On Monday, Powder Mountain also closed, leaving Brian Head as the only Utah resort open. (Editor's note: Brian Head has since closed for the winter season). Driving around town Monday morning felt more like mid-April than mid-March. It was warm, very little snow in town and streets were empty. Then, Wednesday morning we experienced an earthquake! Fortunately for us here in Park City, we were far enough removed from the epicenter that it was only a jolt that did little if any damage, but it certainly shook already frayed nerves.

The good in all of this is to see how everyone in Park City has rallied to help each other. Immediately, a Facebook page came up for residents in need, to ask for help and for those willing to help. It is truly warming to see how many of our local residents have stepped up to help those who have lost their jobs or for health reasons are afraid to venture out. The offers to go shopping, pick up meals from restaurants or find sanitary products for those who cannot are an inspiration. It seems that in times of crisis people step up, and perhaps even more so in small close communities like Park City. While things will most certainly get worse, this will end, and hopefully, we will come out stronger.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dennis Hanlon

In the meantime, life and business go on. Not surprisingly, Real Estate sales have slowed, but have not come to an end. I see new sales being reported every day across all price ranges and market types. The biggest change is that we are not holding open houses right now and agents are working from home rather than offices. Fortunately for us, we are accustomed to doing business remotely and through virtual methods, so I am still able to communicate effectively with my buyers and sellers and show properties to interested buyers. As is often the case, difficult times also bring opportunities and the savvy investor is ready to act! As many of us are now working from home and have time, I would love to hear from you and chat about what is happening in your area and perhaps just to chat about real estate in general.

Take care, be safe and please help out as much as you can… good times will return soon enough!

The post Dennis Hanlon Talks Park City, UT Real Estate And Sense Of Community During COVID-19 Crisis appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

To bring some clarity, Haute Residence talked with Dante DiSabato, Naples-based luxury real estate agent with William Raveis Real Estate, who shares his approach to presenting lavish estates on the market and not letting them pine on it for long.

What makes a home a luxury property?

I think it depends on the market that you are selling. And, frankly, the term “Luxury Property” gets thrown around a lot by agents and by sellers. I think that usually a luxury property is $1 million and up in price point or the top 10% of your market area.

What considerations go into pricing a luxury home? What factors influence the pricing?

There are all different factors regarding the pricing of a luxury home. For an area such as Naples, Florida the main factor would be location. There are additional factors like view, size, age, style, etc. But there are usually comparables, which help influence the price.

The condos and penthouses at 875 9th St S Naples, Florida 34102 range from $1,699,000 to $2,875,000. Offered by Dante DiSabato / Courtesy of Dante DiSabato

How do you approach the marketing of the home? Do you have any rules/principles you follow?

I have come up with a method to my madness when it comes to marketing a luxury property. This took years to create and it continues to adapt as technology changes and the market changes. It also depends on the demographic that I feel would be purchasing the home. It all starts with the photography, video tours, and ads that are put out in a systematic order to create the greatest viewership.

Some professionals say that there are good and bad times to list a luxury property depending on its location. Do you agree? Is there a most propitious time to list a luxury home in your region?

In Naples / Southwest Florida the best time would be to list around Thanksgiving and keep the listing through our season, which usually lasts just past Easter. However, lately due to weather, our season has lasted a longer period of time and people are staying longer and purchasing later in the season. It is good exposure to start in the fall though.

Professional photography and staging seems to be a must, especially for high-end properties. Today, 3D tours are becoming popular too. What is your advice to sellers when it comes to this aspect of marketing that is often at the core of the home presentation?

I would highly recommend professional photography as it is the first thing that a potential buyer looks at. 3D tours and video tours are becoming popular as well and I would suggest all of these to a seller when marketing a property. The better your home looks, thanks to quality photography and video, the more attractive it is to potential buyers, which, in turn, makes them want to schedule a visit.

489 1st Ave S, Naples, FL 34102 is listed for $3,999,000 by Dante DiSabato / Courtesy of Dante DiSabato

When executing a marketing campaign, is there a right mix of online promotion, print and relying on a realtor’s built network? What is your approach?

My approach is very different than others in my market as I would say I have a mix of all three when it comes to marketing. I have a very high online, magazine and newspaper presence, and a very large Realtor network that I have been leveraging for years. All of these aspects play a part in my plan. However, if the property is not priced correctly it will not sell.

Do open houses help sell luxury homes? Why yes/no?

Yes. I like to hold the properties open as much as possible to get potential buyers in to tell the story of value or what this property offers versus others on the market. If you can give the facts to a potential buyer while standing in front of them it is better than any marketing in the paper, social media or Realtor network.

Top Image: 333 Gulf Shore Blvd S, Naples, FL 34102, offered at $8,000,000 by Dante DiSabato / Courtesy of Dante DiSabato

The post Dante DiSabato’s Guide To Marketing Luxury Property appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.