As passionate real estate agents, Carla and Gladys Spizzirri have encountered some rather odd properties over the years. After receiving a call about a property on 148 Jane Street, they assumed it would be business as per usual. The elderly homeowner, Joyce, contacted the pair for their expertise. She felt like this team was skilled and experienced enough to handle her case. Upon assessing the property, the experienced realtors would discover something incredibly shocking!
Shocking Discovery Emerged After Pensioner Sells Her Home
Seemingly Ordinary Property
Even though we all know its not the best show of character to judge a book by the appearance of its cover, in certain situations, this can be a rather human approach. When visiting this 96-year-old woman home, the outside of the property seems notably average. However, lurking inside is something quite unbelievable. From the moment this home went on the market, it became clear that it would not be an ordinary buy. When taking into account that an elderly lady had resided in the home for nearly 70 years, you will likely be taken aback at what’s hiding inside this seemingly ordinary property.
Seemingly Ordinary Property
Time To Sell
Over the 70 years that Joyce owned the property, not many people had been inside. For this reason, the home remained a complete mystery. When the realtors received a call to request a home assessment, Carla and Gladys were unaware of what type of home they would be putting on the market. They decided it would be best to visit the property as soon as possible. There was no time to waste in the realtor world, after all!
Time To Sell
Business As Per Usual
The real estate agency was founded, owned and run by siblings Gladys and Carla Spizzirri. They hadn’t always worked together until they established what a dynamite team they made. The two sisters worked together like a well-oiled machine – one would hunt down listings for houses to sell, while the other silver-tongued sibling had the gift of sales and customer liaison. It was just such an obvious collaboration, so why change that, right?
Business As Per Usual
A Surprise Is Hiding
After many years in the industry, Gladys and Carla have accumulated copious amounts of knowledge between the two of them, they knew all the ropes in real estate like the back of their hands. They are mistresses in their field, and no job or expectation is too big or unmanageable for this dynamic duo. Nothing shocks these sisters anymore, as they thought they had seen and heard it all. Well, contrary to popular belief that is – as they were about to encounter one of the rather rare moments, where they would be left speechless.
A Surprise Is Hiding
“Ring Ring”
Just that one unexpected phone call would blow these sisters’ rather mediocre lives out of the water. They had worked on plenty of interesting homes in the past, but the two were hungry for a real challenge and a truly spectacular home that they could sell for an immense profit. Obviously completely oblivious to this, it seems that miracles never cease to amaze anymore, and these sisters are no exception.
Ring Ring
An Elderly Caller
Staying true to their professionalism, they took the call, as they would any other day, as they received hundreds of calls a day. Even after so many lengthy and detailed conversations, the sisters were energetic and polite when they answered the phone on that fateful day. The professional call had taken a rather abrupt turn once they heard the person on the other side of the phone – an old lady wanting to sell her home. An old lady named Joyce.
An Elderly Caller
Something’s Out Of Place
Joyce had made the final decision to put her home on the market, however, she seemed rather ambivalent. Gladys and Carla noticed that Joyce seemed to be rather indefatigable and she would definitely sell her house sooner or later. The sisters were convinced that there was no potential client too stubborn to sell. She then proceeded to reveal a shocking revelation to the siblings, one that would rock their worlds forever – if not a long time.
Something Out Of Place
No Joy For Joyce
Any person would generally be overwhelmed selling their home, and inundated with excitement, pursuing the unexpected journey that lies ahead. Hence they’d contact the estate agents to assist them with selling their homes and pursuing their new ventures. In Joyce’s case, the was exactly the opposite scenario, as she did not seem too happy at all. The sisters could not understand why she seemed so apprehensive, and they felt like she had something to hide…
No Joy For Joyce
What Lies Beneath
After operating in the industry for many years, estate agents generally develop a sixth sense about their clients’ approaches and tones, etc. Both Gladys and Carla sensed something was not right about Joyce’s call and there was more to the story waiting to be uncovered. Naturally having dealt with many clients in the past, they knew that this was a negative secret or hidden detail, to say the least. If this was the case, it would most definitely affect the sales process and price on the house.
What Lies Beneath
No Job Too Big For The Spizzirri Sisters
This was not your average property flaws that were being covered by Joyce. This was not about cracks in the walls, uneven flooring, faulty water heater or mildew in the corners in the bathroom. No, this was much bigger, a challenge to say the least, but the Spizzirri sisters were determined to see the job through. They had dealt with all manner of unusual properties and their crazy problems and shortcomings.
No Job Too Big For The Spizzirri Sisters
Unexpected And Unimaginable
Burdened with the illustrious task of selling Joyce’s house, with all their knowledge and skills of real estate accumulated over the years, the sisters were adamant on ruling the industry, therefore this should be an easy task, right? Wrong. Nothing could’ve prepared Gladys and Carla for all the secrets buried within the walls of 148 Jane Street. This was the type of discovery that would take an enormous amount of time and effort to deal with.
Unexpected And Unimaginable
Blown Away
Professionals for plenty of years, ruling their little kingdom of real estate, these siblings were certain they had seen it all. They had managed their way through even the most impossible of tasks and jobs, jobs which would’ve turned other realtors away ages ago. Before approaching the job and entering the home in question, Gladys and Carla were already brainstorming the most bizarre and obscure situations and ideas they could possibly think up. Did they even come close? We’ll find out now.
Blown Away
Cautious
As expected, Carla was at the office when the call from Joyce came through. The elderly lady seemed rather ambivalent to put her sale forward but seemed like she had no other option. Carla saw this as a regular customer and a regular sale – each sale represents money at the end of the day. When Joyce mentioned her age, Carla thought she had it all figured out as to why the sale could’ve landed on her lap, although they were not used to receiving luxury home listings – they were few and far between.
Cautious
Against All Odds
When Joyce revealed to Carla that she was 96 years of age, Carla thought that the cliched expectations of the home failed to be taken care of and left in a rut might just be a distant nightmare, as Joyce seemed surprisingly comprehensible and easy to understand. Carla was not exactly overjoyed with the nitty-gritty details but started to look forward to the challenge nevertheless. You need to meet every challenge with a smile in this industry.
Against All Odds
They Didn’t Expect Much
Being in the industry for many years, the Spizzirri sisters had become popular and renowned for their professional and tenacious work ethics throughout the city of Toronto. Most of the properties they sold did the talking for themselves, as they were well-manicured and well looked after homes. They were in denial that the same could be said or expected for Joyce’s house. How could hers be any different from the neighbors’?
They Did Not Expect Much
Reluctant
The sisters had to investigate this job for themselves, as Joyce seemed rather reluctant at first to sell her home. She struggled to give the sisters a straight answer to any of their pressing questions. They were not being particularly invasive either, this was just standard procedure for the successful listing of a home. When Joyce first called the Spizzirri sisters, she revealed a detail that would certainly affect the sale of her house.
Reluctant
Young At Heart
Carla was rather taken back, as she was so used to her grandmother and elderly people in general who are hard of hearing, but not 96-year-old Joyce, who was comprehensive and could hold a decent, full conversation. This was not the type of elder that could be easily taken advantage of, and she would not hand the deeds to her property to anyone easily. The real groundbreaker was yet to be revealed behind the walls of Joyce’s house. This fine detail was a lot more extraordinary.
Young At Heart
Clutter Bug
As the viewing day for the home approached, Gladys and Carla were starting to feel more and more anxious. They were petrified that on top of the waiting period, the amount of time it would take to declutter and clean out the house, had one of their worst fears come to light – what if Joyce was a hoarder?! After all, she had had approximately 70 years to collect copious amounts of junk, to say the least.
Clutter Bug
Expecting Nothing Above Average
The house appeared to be no more than average from the outside. For this reason, the sisters were certain the sale of the house would be nothing exceptional. When you arrive at a home that you wish to sell, you hope that its exterior will immediately enchant and draw in potential sellers. There was something strange about the place, however. If only they knew what was lurking within the walls of the old property.
Expecting Nothing Above Average
Impending Doom
After living in the house for 7 decades, Joyce had done nothing with it, except kitchen renovations. How could anyone have lived in a place for so long and not made a single edition or improvement? Gladys and Carla were now more convinced than ever that their worst nightmare was about to come true. A house not taken care of, starting to disintegrate, they could just see the writing on the walls already, figuratively speaking.
Impending Doom
Expecting The Worst
The sisters were now getting more and more anxious about Joyce’s reluctant approach to things. If a seller is hesitant, this could mean one of two things – she was a hoarder, or the place was a dump – left for 70 years neglected. Yes, that’s it. They were now satisfied with their assumptions and had already started thinking about getting a team of cleaners, remodellers and if necessary, demolishers to get the house in tip-top shape to make it more aesthetically appealing to potential buyers.
Expecting The Worst
Not Yet Ready
Still not having seen the inside of the home, Gladys and Carla were now steadily considering a fixer-upper team to come and clean the house, bringing it up to standard. Joyce is still hesitant at this point. Still not ready? Say what? We have to commend the professional ladies for maintaining an appropriate level of calm throughout these frustrating negotiations. More temperamental realtors would have snapped by now, we are sure.
Not Yet Ready
Tough Decisions
The Spizzirri sisters were feeling rather disconcerted by Joyce’s reluctance to sell her home. Yes, she had been living there for 7 decades and claims she has meaning to sell it. But something was not tied up, something was fishy. The sisters could not help but agree that Joyce was hiding pressing information from them. Setting aside the fact of “It’s time to move on”, something was still not right.
Tough Decisions
Renovation Needs
All that was missing was the actual inspection, before actually making any plans to clean and renovate Joyce’s house. The sisters were convinced they would repair the house first before even contemplating putting it on the market. Of course, no one wanted to enter a potential home and find it in a mess, and worse, that there was plenty of work needed to be done on various dilapidated parts of the property.
Renovation Needs
Shocking Surprise
Gladys and Carla set up an appointment to go and view the property as soon as possible, which would help them determine which fixer-upper projects would be in order and to finally put their anxiety at ease and hopefully be able to laugh at their crazy and bizarre assumptions. This was the last thing that they wanted to find and that their worst fears had been correct. Obviously oblivious to Joyce’s secret, the two sisters were blown away when they found out what it was…
Shocking Surprise
Great Surrounding Area
Much to Gladys and Carla’s surprise, the house was situated in a decent location and in fact, considered to be a rather ideal area to everyone in Toronto. The market value of the area had actually been on the rise for many years prior. The sisters were relieved to know that no matter the challenges they faced, they could still strike quite a good deal with the price of the home.
Great Surrounding Area
Time To Assess
The Spizzirri sisters had previously sold houses in the Old Mill area, where they’ve managed to rake in handsome profits. After much debate, thinking, conclusions and tossing numbers around, they finally settled with an estimated value for Joyce’s house of $968, 000.00. This was far more than they expected. With this incredible figure in hand and the newfound possibility for a boatload of profit to be made, they were properly excited.
Time To Assess
Holding On A Bit Longer
The way this old lady was talking about her home was starting to give the sisters second thoughts. Was it just mixed emotions over leaving her comfort zone of 72 years or was it the fact that her deep secret would finally be revealed and out in the open? After all, it’s only natural to feel emotional when parting with a place you’ve called home for so long, but the sisters had a feeling it was more than just this.
Holding On A Bit Longer
70 Years Of Moments
When the sisters found out the house had not been touched or renovated in 70 years, they immediately assumed that a lot of work and maintenance would be in order before anyone was able to live comfortably in it and call it “home”. They were baffled and didn’t have the foggiest idea what they what surprises were lurking before them. Just what was Joyce so adamant about hiding from them?
70 Years Of Moments
Potential Waste Of Time
After much deliberation, the sisters’ anxiety started to get the better of them and they started to worry more and more. Would the profits of the home actually be used to maintain and rebuild a home of a messy hoarder, who had been accumulating junk for 7 decades and fixing a neglected, decaying, dilapidated house? All these uneasy thoughts and assumptions would finally be put to bed at the house viewing.
Potential Waste Of Time
Change Of Heart
The battle lines had been drawn in the bid for Joyce’s home. Just when the sisters had come to terms with the fact that maintenance and repairs were the burning issues, another roadblock gets thrown up… Joyce is now leaning more to not selling. After all, this indecisiveness makes sense, to us, at least, that a place you call home for so long and now you must know that it’ll very soon contain other dwellers. For the real estate queens, this is not good news though. Do they now need to enter the lines of convincing?
Change Of Heart
Convincing Is Needed
Despite the Spizzirri sisters’ atrocious and bizarre assumptions, they were now more adamant than ever to get the house fixed up and sold, based on the location alone. The hunt for suitable buyers would not be tough, and with some work and TLC, the house would be liveable again. Had the sisters found a golden goose, that they could not let slip through their fingers? Or would this become the job that would finally bring them to their knees?
Convincing Is Needed
Persistence Is Key
The agents knew very well that before they could make their next move, they would need to see the inside of the house. Gladys and Carla have at this point confirmed and located the house, going by the address they were provided, as well as photos of the exterior they were given. Persistence is key, they say? After some tenacious nagging, Joyce finally allowed the sisters a visit into her abode.
Persistence Is Key
Disbelief
After being held onto in the hands of Joyce for 7 decades, snuggled up in the quiet, upmarket suburb of Old Mill, it was just about to land it’s spot on the market, via retail sharks, Gladys and Carla. Were some renegotiations in order? Did the sisters aim too low on their estimate? The duo was not quite sure yet as to what price exactly they could place on this little gem. They were completely relieved but also taken back as it was not the worst-case scenario they had pictured.
Disbelief
Locked In Time
Set aside who is residing in the dwelling, or whose signatures are on the legalities, this home is the definition of remarkable and well-preserved architecture. Joyce had indeed preserved the property and gave it every bit of TLC it needed and deserved. The sisters’ plans for maintenance, cleaning and remodeling were not even necessary and now much to their relief, a thing of the past, as all were found in immaculate condition.
Locked In Time
Time Capsule Home
The incredible detail showcased the home combined with gorgeous furniture created a home that dated back decades in time. Even though the interior design of the home was clearly outdated, the sisters knew they had found a real gem of a home. They would need to find a buyer that would truly appreciate the beauty of the time capsule home. This would need to be someone with deep pockets and a unique taste in decor.
Time Capsule Home
A Lady Of Taste
Even though Joyce is a pensioner with an incredibly busy schedule, she invested her time and effort over the years to create a home to perfectly fit her fine taste. There’s no denying that over the years, Joyce created a home exactly to her liking and did her best to captivate her personal style. Despite her family previously confronted with the turmoil of the economic crisis after the war, Joyce poured her creative side into the project of maintaining her home perfectly.
A Lady Of Taste
Not Your Average Home
After the realtor sisters arrived at the home, they noted that the photo looked identical to the one that Joyce had sent them. They weren’t expecting anything exceptional within the home considering the bland exterior of the seemingly ordinary home. They had arrived with a fake sense of enthusiasm and politeness that masked their true feelings of apprehension at having to deal with this stubborn old woman and her difficult home.
Not Your Average Home
Secrets Revealed
The home of this elderly pensioner was practically a portal to a time that existed in a long-passed era. Joyce should have received recognition for her extraordinary home and its impeccable interior design, although the stunning truth only emerged after she decided to sell her home. Joyce was no interior designer, yet she managed to create an enchanting home locked in time in a way that we can only imagine took an incredible dedication.
Secrets Revealed
Negotiating
It took some time for the sisters to negotiate with the elderly lady. However, they managed to settle a deal and the sale of the house would proceed. While Carla and Gladys were expecting to be welcomed to a horrid home that would prove impossible to sell, nothing could have prepared them for the charming secrets waiting inside. This would be the kind of revealed that would blow all their expectations away.
Negotiating
Impressing The Masses
Ever since Joyce put her home up for sale, professional interior designers have traveled from all over the country simply to take in the sheer beauty of Joyce’s home. They were able to indulge in the age-old design trends that have long been lost. There’s no doubt that the home must have looked completely different when Joyce first moved in so many years ago. What she did with the place in that time was simply mesmerizing.
Impressing The Masses
An Inner Passion For Design
While Joyce easily could have pursued her incredible talent for interior design. The beauty lurking in her home went viral almost immediately after she put her home up for sale! In fact, the incredible work she had done in this place was better than many practicing interior designers’ best work. We are not trying to take anything away from the professionals, but this was the kind of place that wowed them!
An Inner Passion For Design
Investigating The Home
Joyce’s home immediately became a prime real estate thanks to the incredibly detailed interior. However, Gladys and Carla would still need to conduct a thorough investigation. The home required absolutely no work, which was great for the realtors who were expecting a large initial expense before being able to sell the property. It seemed like the possibility of a fabled golden goose had come to be for the realtor sisters!
Investigating The Home
Not Willing To Part With Furniture
Unfortunately, Joyce was not at all willing to sell her home and her furniture. This was a great pity, as Joyce’s magnificent furnishings were a massive and enticing draw. This was a slight disadvantage considering homes sell easier when they are fully furnished. In addition to this, the buyer may have difficulty furnishing his home to the remaining decor considering the furniture and design elements dated back to the early 1940s.
Not Willing To Part With Furniture
Inheritance
Joyce was hoping to keep her furniture as an inheritance for her daughter. These items were worth so much and genuinely irreplaceable to the family. It would be the best solution for Joyce to hold onto her antiques to ensure her daughter is well taken care of. However, it is understandable that Joyce must have been quite reluctant to move from the home after living there for so long. Such a big change would be hard to come to terms with.
Inheritance
Channelling Talents
Joyce used her two-story home as a way to channel her creative talents. This was her passion and her life’s acheivement. When you spend your entire life working on something like this, it is bound to be jaw-dropping. She was constantly working in her sewing chair and adding details to her home to perfect her surroundings. Joyce worked hard to create this beautiful home that can easily be mistaken for a luxury antique style hotel.
Channelling Talents
Back To The ‘40s
There’s no doubt that Joyce was fortunate enough to find realtors that appreciated the beauty of her home. She also had ample help from her loving family. Thanks to her family and the ending of the tragic Second World War, Joyce was able to hone her interior design talents to create this masterpiece of a home over the years. While so many people’s lives had been ruined during this catastrophic time, Joyce had flourished.
Back To The 40’s
Vibrant Colour Palette
In days gone by, vibrant colors were all the rage. Many homeowners chose to decorate their homes with a vibrant color palette. Merging bright tones such as lime green and shocking pink to create a fun-filled environment. Pastel colors were also high in fashion. This was a calming and inspiring place that would bring people joy and peace in their most difficult times, especially for Joyce. What was this beautiful place’s fate going to be?
Vibrant Color Palette
Preserved In Time
Joyce was definitely not short of motivation when she traveled to Bloor West Village to transform this ordinary brick home into a sensationally detailed abode. The home is widely considered a portal back in time with extravagant finishes and antique items that tie the brilliance together. The elderly seamstress is undeniably talented to have created such a magnificent home over the years! She was filled with so much pride and joy for her home.
Preserved In Time
Checking For Structural Damage
Regardless of the exceptional beauty of the home, the realtors would still need to ensure the home would not need any major repair work. Considering the home was quite old, there could potentially be structural damages that would need to be seen before the home could go on the market. After a time-consuming investigation, the realtors would have to inform Joyce about potentially crippling repair costs. There were some pressing questions that needed answers.
Checking For Structural Damage
Pastel Perfection
Joyce explained during an interview that she was a fan of pastel colors and enjoyed matching items together. She decorated each room with the intention of matching colors perfectly. Opting for different tones and hues of the same soft color. With such gentle and fuzzy elements, there would be plenty of charm for any visitor to make their way through. This was the kind of wonder that you could not find today.
Pastel Perfection
Pink Paradise
If you were to take a peek inside the time capsule home, you would find something of a pink paradise. Joyce clearly favored pastel pink in all its many forms and utilized the color incredibly. Even her daughter explained just how much she liked the color, which can clearly be seen in this image of the elegant antique home. How Joyce managed to design, aquire and install so many wonderful things.
Pink Paradise
Back In Time
The realtors were so concerned that the home would end up costing them their time. As they stepped through the front door, it was as though they had walked through a portal to another time. This ‘40s style home has become an incredibly viral sensation, and for good reason! This is a fantastic lesson in not being prejudiced, particularly against the elderly, who will often blow your expectations of them away.
Back In Time
Utter Disbelief
During Joyce’s tour of her home, the realtors realized that they had never experienced such elegance displayed in a home. Even with years of experience, Joyce’s home was an absolute first for the sisters. They could not compare this home to any other they had previously toured, and they would certainly never see another home like it for as long as they lived. They would never forget this marvelous experience and woman.
Utter Disbelief
A Special Kind Of Buyer
The sisters were aware that not everyone would be interested in purchasing this time capsule home, nor would many be willing to spend that much money. They would need to find a very specific kind of buyer that would truly appreciate the history of the house. However, the realtors were more than prepared to take on the unique project of finding the perfect buyer. Only time would tell if someone actually took the wonder!
A Special Kind Of Buyer