— Selling · For owners

Sell your residence the way art is sold.

A boutique representation service for owners of architecturally significant residences in Dubai, the Maldives and selected European jurisdictions. We treat every object as a singular work — and we sell it on those terms.

Apply for representation →
— Dubai · the market we sell into

Most brokers list a property. We curate a sale.
Every Heart of the City representation includes architectural film, editorial photography, a written narrative, a private viewing kit, and a discreet PR plan — calibrated to the object's edition size, its architect, and its likely buyer pool.

— 01The Selling Package

What we produce
for every object.

Three production tiers, six standard outputs. Every residence on our books receives the same care, regardless of price point. The output scales with the object — never down from it.

— Tier 01 · Editorial

Architectural film

A one- to two-minute film — we shoot one where the property earns it. Made by partner production houses we work with directly. 4K source, web-optimised deliverables, broadcast-quality master. Used across the sale, PR, social, and private invitations.

— Tier 01 · Editorial

Editorial photography

Architectural exteriors, interiors, drone aerials, lifestyle vignettes. Shot by professional architectural photographers. We hand you every photograph in full quality after the sale.

— Tier 02 · Narrative

Written object brief

A 1,500–2,500-word editorial piece on the residence — architect's provenance, design intent, materials, the case for the location, comparable sales. Published as a private viewing document and a long-read on our Journal.

— Tier 02 · Narrative

Private viewing kit

A printed A4 dossier, if the buyer prefers paper. The film goes by private link — no files to pass around. Floor plans, technical specifications and comparable sales. Shared once an NDA is signed.

— Tier 03 · Distribution

Discreet PR plan

We list the property on the main portals and build a separate promotion plan around the property and its likely buyer. Where a residence has real architectural merit, we approach the specialist press on request.

— Tier 03 · Distribution

Off-market & on-market routing

We segment your audience and choose the route. Private viewings from our own buyer database — or an open sale with the full material package and publication. The seller decides — we advise.

— 02Selected work

A look at what
we've produced.

Below — recent frames and one of our short films. The full library and per-object editorial pages are shared under NDA, after a brief intake call.

— Architectural film · Frame still
— Editorial · Interior detail
— Composition · Light & material
— Vignette · Living scene
— Architectural still · Volumes
— Architectural still · Interior
— Pool deck · Iconic Dubai
— Master suite · City context
— Night atmosphere · Closing frame
— Architectural film · The Lana, Dorchester · sample loop
— 03The Process

From brief
to closed sale.

Average representation cycle: 6–14 weeks from signing the agreement to closing. Below — the standard sequence. Material variations are agreed up front.

01

Brief & agreement

A discovery call. We assess the object, the seller's timeline, the audience strategy, and any discretion constraints. Mutual NDA before any details leave the room. Mandate signed if both sides commit.

Week 1
02

Production

Photographer and film crew on site. 3–5 days of shoots depending on object size. Editorial writer briefed in parallel. Floor plans and specs assembled into the private viewing kit.

Weeks 2–3
03

Edit & approve

First cut of film, the selected frames, first draft of narrative — reviewed with the seller. One revision round standard. Sign-off before any external distribution.

Week 4
04

Viewings & publication

We show the property to vetted buyers from our own database. If the brief includes visibility, parallel publication in our Journal and selected architectural press. Private viewings coordinated personally.

Weeks 5–10
05

Negotiation & close

We handle offer presentation, counter-strategy, and conveyancing coordination with the seller's legal counsel. Where a sale spans several jurisdictions, we bring in the relevant lawyers.

Weeks 8–14
06

Aftercare

After closing we hand you every photograph and film in full quality. The object retains its editorial page in our Journal — a permanent record of the residence as it sold.

Post-close
— 04Why with us

Curation, not
just listing.

Selling a significant residence through a generalist broker is sometimes the right move. Often it isn't. Below — where Heart of the City makes a measurable difference.

— Heart of the City

Working the property, not just listing it

  • + A small portfolio — we only take objects we'd represent ourselves
  • + Full material package included in the agreement
  • + Our own buyer database — we start with private viewings
  • + NDA-first, name-never-published confidentiality
  • + Lawyers for sales spanning several jurisdictions
  • + Listed on the portals and, where it fits, in the specialist press
  • + Object retains a permanent editorial page post-sale
— Generalist brokerage

Listing on portals, volume-driven

  • Thousands of listings in play; yours gets a minute of attention
  • Photography and copy farmed out to whoever is cheapest
  • The same route for every property, whatever it is
  • Buyer pool optimised for speed, not fit with the property
  • No editorial PR; press relationships limited
  • Object disappears from the record once sold

If you have a residence worth
selling carefully — apply.

We take on a limited number of new properties each quarter. Every application is reviewed personally by Alexey Alifanov.