A few changes can make all the difference between a home selling quickly at asking price or lingering on the market, according to a top property stager.
In fact, one survey by Harron Homes found nearly half of buyers decide whether they want to purchase a property within the first five minutes of a viewing.
So owner of ThePropertyStagers Liv Conlon, who prepares homes before they go to market, told the Daily Express how sellers can fix five common mistakes to avoid a missed sale.
Forgetting about kerb appeal
The outside of your home is just as important as the inside according to Liv, because faded paintwork, a cluttered front porch and an overgrown lawn can make a property feel unloved before buyers enter.
She suggests repainting the front door, mowing the lawn and adding some potted plants or hanging baskets. She also recommends upgrading outdoor lighting to make your entrance feel warm and welcoming.
Thinking ‘clean’ is the same as ‘decluttered’
Even if a space is immaculately clean, too much furniture or clutter suggests there’s a lack of storage, and it can make a property feel smaller, which she believes “buyers will pick up on immediately”.
Liv recommends removing excess furniture and streamlining decor to a few select pieces. Stuffing everything in a cupboard isn’t for the best, because if an avalanche of items falls out when a buyer opens a cupboard, it signals there’s not enough storage.
Over-personalising your space
She suggests stripping back decor, especially personalised items, while keeping a few tasteful accessories, plants and luxurious textiles.
Liv added: “Your home should be a reflection of you – except when you’re trying to sell it. Buyers don’t want to walk into a shrine to someone else’s life; they want to imagine their own future in the space.”
Ignoring the ‘lifestyle’ element
A well-staged home should define how the space can be used, instead of a confused room that functions as a home office, stroke gym, stroke spare room.
She recommends adding aspirational touches, like a cozy chair and lamp to suggest a reading nook, or plush towels and candles in the bathroom to add a luxurious, spa-like feel.
Neglecting the ‘wow factor’ with lighting
Liz said: “Lighting can make or break a room. Get it right, and your home feels warm, welcoming and expensive. Get it wrong, and buyers will be squinting to see the potential.”
She recommends “layered lighting” from different sources to create balance. She also advises adding a bold light fitting in a dining room or hallway, lamps to add warmth to living spaces, and dimmers to create a softer atmosphere.
