.jpg "Staging a property")
Put simply, home staging means preparing your home for a potential buyer. It can involve redecorating, rearranging furniture, cleaning and accessorising to present the property in the best possible light. Some may choose to do this themselves, while others may opt for professional help from an interior designer or home staging company.
What are the benefits and what’s the best way to go about it?
An inviting scene makes it easier for someone to buy into a lifestyle. Not only can a well-presented space draw buyers and tenants in from the moment they begin their online search, but it also makes it easier to gauge a property’s size and proportions.
Another advantage is that it can help house hunters differentiate one property from another, particularly in the initial stages of a search. We are increasingly finding that buyers at the upper end of the market want something they haven’t seen before which is why our clients are leaning away from neutral ‘one look’ interior designs.
Staging a home can create talking points which are a great way to make a viewing more memorable. Today prime properties have so much to offer from bars, spas and pools to cinema rooms, dog showers and tack rooms, so it’s about accentuating what you have to catch the eye and get people talking.
Here are my seven tips for a successful staging:
- Keep furniture and accessories in line with the property’s style, location and, ultimately, the lifestyle it offers but also think about incorporating statement pieces such as a glamorous headboard, some art work or a feature wall to help your home stand out.
- Accentuate the positive. You can have some fun here. For example, if I were staging a home with a cinema or TV room, I’d add some gourmet popcorn, some cosy throws and perhaps a bar cart to really emphasise the theme.
- Target multiple senses. While a viewing is obviously about what you see, it’s also about the experience. Candles and rooms diffusers create muscle memory and can be a great way to keep your property front of mind. So if you’re dressing for the winter months, for example, incorporate earthy tones and fireside scents. When it’s warmer, light floral scents and natural fabrics, like cotton and linen work well.
- Dress your property for the buyer's or tenant’s needs. For example, if you have four or more bedrooms consider staging one as a study or office. If not, could your landing accommodate a desk? This can really pay off as having a dedicated work from home space remains in demand.
- Including branded goods such as luxury soaps and accessories can be appealing. But there’s no need to go overboard or pay a fortune. Pitch them at the right level and position subtly. Here, less can be more and it’s about matching or complementing a lifestyle, rather than the brand names themselves.
- You don’t need to do the whole house. Focus on the ‘decision maker’ rooms such as the entrance hall and the rooms in which people spend the majority of their time.
- If you are opting to have your property professionally dressed, you can do this for a fixed period and, again, just concentrate on key rooms which is a great option for those looking for a short-term, but effective solution.
.jpg)
