PDF It’s time to call in the homestagers for some style tips
Times are tough for property sellers with house prices falling by 2.9 per cent over the past year, according to the latest figures from the Halifax and with buyers having so much choice, it is so important to present your property in the best possible light to reel in the buyers.
One problem for sellers is that as much as they hope prospective buyers will visualise the home’s potential, most make their decision as soon as they walk in the door, or even as soon as they’ve hit the driveway. First impressions are the only impressions that count when you’re trying to sell. Research shows that buyers make a decision about whether they are going to turn their nose up or not within about 30 seconds. First impressions, therefore, really count!
Although most homeowners will be reluctant to admit their properties are in need of a makeover, for anyone struggling to sell, a few cosmetic changes could make all the difference.
It is a buyers market, and they are demanding. Whether your property is priced at £150,000 or £1m, buyer expectations are incredibly high and if you don’t try to meet their expectations either you will not sell or you leave yourself open to be knocked down on price. Many sellers feel forced to drop their asking price when their home doesn’t sell quickly. Often they are forced to drop it more than once… but all this can be avoided with proper home staging. You can save yourself enormous amounts of money by having your home staged from the very beginning.
In the main Home Staging is about helping your home to stand out from the crowd, whether by tidying and tweaking what you already have, or adding key items of furniture and accessories to create the “wow factor”. The most important task for any home stager is to create scenes in the property which evoke positive feelings from your potential buyer.
Some people think that they can do this by baking cookies or bread, but the truth is that is an old trick and everyone knows it. Today, you have to figure out new methods of eliciting emotion. Create little moments in your home when as the potential buyer walks through they are hit with a strong emotion. These moments make them stop and feel. Instead of simply browsing through your home, they are feeling the house and become emotionally connected.
We all buy on emotion. (Emotion drives 84 per cent of all buying decisions, not logic) Emotions influence most major purchases –cars, clothing, TVs and, yes, even homes. So instead of depersonalising and taking emotion out, add emotion in! Create elements that appeal to all five senses and elicit an emotional response — something that will make your potential buyer laugh out loud, remember fondly, or say “Awww, isn’t that adorable!” Make the buyer fall in love with your house. Instead of simply browsing through your home, they are feeling the house and become emotionally connected.
Help your buyer see themselves living in your house. Most people who walk into an empty room, see an empty room. They do not see the Christmas party they will host next year or the bonding moment they will share with their child as they read a book together in front of the fireplace. Give potential buyers “pre-memories” of all the joy they will have once they buy your home.
When you create the right feeling and presentation throughout your home, potential buyers will remember your property. Taking the time to properly stage your property to make it memorable and not just another house that smelt of fresh bread will help you sell your property faster and with more success.
If you would like to talk to us about selling your property, then we would like to listen.
Let’s Connect!