It’s January – the month property sales start to speed up again. Staging your property sets the scene for buyers to step into a new life, increasing your chances of selling, says Jonathan Welford.
I’ve been staging properties for many years; when working as an estate agent, I would always be asked the same question by the vendor: “Is there anything I could do to help the property sell?” Many, more inexperienced agents would reply: “The buyers will see the potential,” to avoid any potential conflict. I, on the other hand, would give home staging advice, as I could prove that staging a property works.
I once went out to appraise a delightful period semi in a very desirable Cheshire town. The couple had a great passion for the Wizard of Oz film, which had spilled out into their interior design choices.
The two reception rooms were knocked through and into the chimney breast had been set a lit glass display with two ruby slippers on a dark velvet cushion. The entire wall had been artexed with a rainbow motif and each rainbow had been intricately painted, so the whole wall as a kaleidoscope of rainbows.
The house had been on the market for some time and they asked me why it hadn’t sold. This was a super-easy fix over a couple of weekends. The house was decluttered, the wall was plastered and re-painted a neutral colour. The property sold three weeks later for over the asking price. The moral of the story – create a home people can imagine themselves living in.
The key elements of home staging are:
Balance furniture and possessions and how they work in the room
When you decide to move, start packing, leaving just the essentials in each room. Buyers often have no vision, so give them a flavour of what your home can offer.
Clearly Identify each room’s purpose
Create a living area, a dining area and make the bedrooms look inviting.
Set a scene for each room: a set dining table, a bedroom ready for a romantic evening, a bathroom styled with candles and expensive toiletries. Set a living room centred around a conversation area, rather than all chairs facing the television.
Make your décor appropriate
Create a neutral balance with your colour palate, so you can go from one room to another and it feels cohesive. Remove anything too wacky, too personal and think like a stylist. You may think a red feature wall in a bedroom is passionate, others may feel like it resembles an abattoir!
Give your house kerb appeal
A red door gets a property noticed and remembered – but make sure it’s freshly painted. A well-maintained garden will look like it’s easy to keep it that way. If you have an overgrown flower bed and a shaggy lawn, buyers may doubt their own skill to keep on top of the maintenance.
Keep it clean and tidy
When selling, ensure your home is clean at all times; don’t ignore dusty plants, pictures or skirting boards. A top tip is to use a scented surface cleaner, and pour a little bleach down each plughole every day.
The key elements to consider when staging a home is to know your target buyer. A family, a first-time buyer, a later-life couple... then dress your home to appeal to that person.
Jonathan Welford is a home staging and decluttering expert based in Cheshire, jonathanwelford.co.uk
