Not many houses make your jaw drop when you walk in the front door, but 40 Portland Place, a Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the market for the first time in more than half a century, is the one-of-a-kind place that does. “They just don’t build them like they used to,” says Andy Dielmann, president and founder of Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s a real gem. Each room has special, one-of-a-kind features you won’t find in newer homes. You just walk in and say, ‘Wow.’”
Designed by local architect Frederick Ronsack for Brown Shoe Company founder George Warren in 1897, the home sits on a lot-and-a-half in the Central West End. Its features read like an architect’s most extravagant wish list: rosewood paneled reception hall, parquet floors, original frescoes, classical plaster moldings, and so on. But possibly the most stunning feature is the solarium, added in 1908 and featuring a domed Tiffany-style skylight. “You couldn’t replace the home today for $20 million,” realtor Steve Lange says.
Dielmann Sotheby’s, which specializes in the luxury market, is perfectly positioned to market a home like 40 Portland Place, says Dielmann. The company’s affiliation with Sotheby’s Auction House means Dielmann agents can make use of a unique blend of media outlets to market each home they represent. “Sotheby’s is known throughout the world for its service in the luxury market, so we not only have local expertise, but we also bring to the table the marketing and exposure that come with being involved with an international company,” Dielmann says. “If somebody is coming from New York or California, they’re going to know the Sotheby’s name. It provides that marketing exposure not only locally, but also nationally and internationally.”
Increasingly, broad exposure is key in the luxury real estate market, he adds. “You have to have every type of marketing at your disposal,” Dielmann says. “We offer a wide range of different marketing tools to expose properties to as many different people as possible.” To that end, Dielmann Sotheby’s homes get exposure in publications like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Architectural Digest. Dielmann Sotheby’s reputation rests not only on this specialized targeted marketing, but also on delivering personalized service. “We are a global society and we’re seeing a lot of people from across the continent coming to St. Louis,” Dielmann says. “You have to adapt no matter where they are, and we try to personalize each transaction in a way that really suits each buyer or seller.”
This level of service isn’t reserved for historic gems or mega-mansions. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a $100,000 home or a multi-million dollar property,” Dielmann says. “We pride ourselves on the white-glove service we give to all our properties, no matter their price.”
Pictured: Andy Dielmann
Photo by Bill Barrett
[Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty specializes in the St. Louis luxury market. For more information, call 314.725.0009 or visit dielmannsothebysrealty.com.]
