Property staging is so underrated!

Home Staging is a powerful property marketing tool and a growing industry worldwide, bringing together different areas of expertise and professionals, such as real estate agents, interior designers, architects, retail professionals, such as real estate agents, interior designers, architects, retail professionals, and many others. In countries like the US property staging is a must but here in the UK many people still do not fully understand or appreciate the power of property staging.

We often get asked what is property staging? It is a process of getting a property ready for sale, so that buyers will connect emotionally with it, fall in love with it and make an offer. When you are selling your home, it’s important to remember that you’re not just selling the physical structure, but also the emotions that it can evoke in potential buyers. They need to be able to envision themselves living in your house. So, keep in mind that you’re selling a dream – not just a house - and that dream starts the moment a prospective buyer pulls up to your home. In today's highly competitive market it becomes more crucial than ever to completely stage and merchandise your home to a buyer who expects a staged, show home look.

Firstly, buyers usually go with what they see and not what they imagine, so make sure the house you’re selling shows its potential. Secondly, it’s essential to understand that when you’re trying to sell a house, what matters is the customer’s vision of their perfect home – not yours. That is why it is always advisable to stage the property in a way that appeals to the majority of your potential buyers.

Here are just a few benefits of home staging:

• Staging increases the number of viewings.

• Homebuyers spend more time viewing a staged home as opposed to a non-staged home.

• Staged homes sell up to 3 times faster than non-staged ones.

• Home Staging can increase the offer value in up to 8%.

• Average staging investment is under 1% of the home's asking price which generates a ROI of 8%-10%.

• 80% of properties professionally staged go under offer in 4 weeks.

• Properties with professional photos get more viewings than properties with poor images.

• 77% of developers saw a return in their investment reporting that the sale of the property paid for the cost of staging

• 87% property professionals said that Home Staging makes it easier for the buyer to visualise a property as their future home.*

Here are the 3 misconceptions about home staging:

Home staging is just for new build properties.

Whilst it is true that most developers will not dream of putting their new developments on the market empty, this approach can benefit all types of properties. We often work with property developers who invest in show homes in order to generate more interest and as a result more sales. At the same time we often work with homeowners who moved out of their family home and are left with an empty property which needs staging. We work with landlords selling their buy to let properties, homeowners who inherited a property and small scale property developers who flip homes for sale.

Home staging is just for multi-million pound properties.

We have staged properties of all sizes, from small studio flats and one bedroom apartments, to two bedroom terraced houses, three bedroom semis, four bedroom Victorian houses to five bedroom country homes. The impact of staging is equally powerful in case of smaller properties as it is for larger ones. It is usually very difficult for potential buyers to see a potential is smaller properties as they are tighter for space and buyers may wonder if their furniture will fit the space. Staging a smaller property will cast these doubts aside and will show off the property’s full potential. Similarly with larger properties which have lots of larger rooms it might be difficult to see what all these rooms might be used for. Staging each space to show its functionality is always very helpful to buyers.

Home staging is just another expense when selling.

I always say to our clients that staging is not an expense, it is an investment that will result in more viewings, more interest, less time on the market, faster sale at the best possible price.

If you consider that average staging investment of under 1% of the home's asking price can generate a ROI of 8%-10% staging a property seems like a pretty good investment.

Some case studies:

2 bedroom flat in Forest Hill

Asking price: £475,000

This 2 bedroom Victorian basement flat was previously rented out. Its owners decided to sell it but not before it was refreshed, repainted and staged. The estate agent that was selling it was surprised at the amount of interest the flat received. There were 15 viewings with another 20+ on the waiting list. The flat sold in the first week on the market for £35,000 above the asking price.

3 bedroom flat in Orpington

Asking price: £550,000

This 3 bedroom flat was on the market with a well known estate agent for two months with 1 viewing and no offers. We staged it for its owner and the flat sold within the first weeks of marketing.

3 bedroom town house in Tufnell Park

Asking price: £725,000

This 3 bedroom family home was on the market empty for a few months with no offers. Its owner decided to take it off the market, get it staged and relaunch. It sold within the first 4 weeks after we staging it.

2 bedroom flat in Bromley

Asking price: £325,000

This 2 bedroom flat was previously rented out. Its owner decided to sell it. The flat was fully renovated when we staged it. It sold in 2 weeks above the asking price.

Author: Anna Francikowska owner of Olive Tree Home Staging 

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