The Parish Magazine September 2022

HOME AND GARDEN — 1
The Parish Magazine - September 2022 29
How to add more than 8% to the value of your home ...
By Angela Cox, The Style Counsellor Ltd (0787 656 8917)
Over the last few months I have been asked by a number
of people what 'home staging and styling' is? What
happens when you ask a 'stager' to come into your
property, and what are the benefits?
Even at a time when the property market is strong there is
still that desire, and a need, for a home buyer to completely
fall in love with it and with the lifestyle it offers. When
potential buyers view your home, you want them to see
themselves living there, to feel at home, and not feel they are
in someone else’s house.
Too many personal items can be distracting, while
completely bare rooms can look cold and impersonal.
Research shows that just as we form an opinion of
someone within 7 seconds of meeting them, most buyers
form an opinion of a property within the first 8 seconds of
entering it, and only 2 seconds if viewing online. It's really
important, therefore, to create a good first impression by
presenting your property at its best. This is where home
staging can provide the solution.
ADDING 'WOW'
Staging is a proven technique to market your home
and success stories show professional staging can increase
the offer value by up to 8% or more. It adds the 'wow' to
your home and sets you apart from other properties in the
neighbourhood by addressing exterior kerb appeal, interior
layouts, furniture and furnishings, lighting, traffic flow,
colour schemes and lifestyle appeal.
Professional home stagers can advise on refurbishments,
organise new flooring, decoration and window treatments,
as well as temporary rental furniture and soft furnishings,
accessories and photography that will make your property
stand out from the competition.
Videos and 3D virtual tours are becoming 'the new
normal' to provide an immersive experience of your home
and minimise unnecessary footfall so hiring a professional
photographer to emphasise the key focal points in your
home, and portray a lifestyle that buyers crave, is being used
increasingly by agents to showcase their best properties.
The before and after photographs above show the
difference in appeal between a cluttered and a staged room.
A buyer can immediately imagine themselves using the space
that was previously cluttered and cold.
KEY STAGING BENEFITS
— Professionally staged homes are eye-catching, intriguing and
encourage more buyers to consider your property, before seeing it.
— It makes your home feel aspirational. It’s important that a buyer
falls in love with the property they choose to buy. Staging can create
that emotional connection. Professional colour combinations, smart
layouts and unusual pieces help develop positive feelings about the
space and are therefore able to imagine living in it.
— It shows ways to use extra rooms. An empty room can be
difficult to imagine how it might be used, especially if there are
areas to work around or dated features. Staging can help buyers
see the potential and how to get the most value out of it and how
it can be used. Empty rooms can look smaller than they are and
staging can help them appear larger — most buyers are not able to
imagine an empty space filled.
— Increased selling price. If your property has been sitting on the
market for a while and you’ve been considering cutting the price to
help move it, you might want to try staging it. This not only tends to
move properties faster, but you could sell it for higher than expected
Generally, staged homes sell over 8% above the asking price.