Home staging in the UK, compared for example to more mature markets in the USA, Canada and Australia, is relatively new and seems less understood and less accepted. Sometimes this reluctance to embrace home staging has been explained as perhaps to do with the UK housing market traditionally tending to prioritise location and structural features of properties over aesthetics and presentation. However, recent Zoopla research indicates that today’s buyers pay 38% attention to a property’s structure, while the cosmetics and furnishing attract 54% of their attention during a viewing. Now that is too big a statistic to ignore. It calls for upping standards in how properties are presented!
Indeed, today’s buyers have high expectations. Most expect move-in ready/insta-ready/turn-key properties as seen on social media channels and some TV programmes, (unless they are specifically looking for a renovation project). There is therefore no doubt that properties that do not measure up to these standards are more likely to be dismissed in the early stages of online screening.
Despite being a new concept in the UK housing market, big cities like London, Bristol, Manchester etc have embraced home staging much better than smaller cities and towns. While this is an excellent start towards acceptance, it somewhat continues to perpetrate one of the many myths that home staging is only relevant to high-value properties. We, as home stagers, therefore, have our work cut out for us. We certainly need to promote awareness of home staging, highlighting what it is and what its potential benefits are.
So, what are some of the myths surrounding home staging? Let’s look at the few below:
1. Only for High-Value Properties
Staging may seem like it’s reserved for luxury homes with jaw-dropping price tags. After all, when you’re selling a high-value property, presentation becomes everything. But for many, it feels like staging doesn’t always fit into the plan for more modest homes.
2. Too Costly for Some Budgets
Let’s be honest, bringing in a team of professionals, renting furniture, and setting everything up can quickly add up making many sellers question it is an investment worth making. However, is there more to it than just the face-value cost?
3. Do Great Homes Really Need It?
Some argue that the best properties don’t need staging at all. “Good properties sell themselves,” they say. If the location is perfect and the home has all the right features, why bother with the extra bells and whistles?
4. Is It Just a Passing Trend?
Remember when everyone thought accent walls were the secret to selling a house? Many believe home staging is a similar fad that will eventually fade. Will this trend last, or will it fall out of favour just like shag carpets and popcorn ceilings?
5. Sometimes, a Good Clean Is All It Takes
Why bring in new furniture when a little elbow grease will do the trick? A spotless home with clear, uncluttered spaces can work wonders in catching a buyer’s eye without the need for a complete makeover.
Today let’s explore the myth that home staging is for high- value properties. Of course this is just a myth. What is true though is that:
- First impressions matter for every home regardless of whether they are a million-dollar mansion or cosy starter home. Home staging makes a home feel more inviting, clutter-free, clean and spacious allowing viewers to see the property as a suitable home for their lifestyle and visualise themselves living there. It is all about creating that all important emotional connection.
- Properties need to stand out in a competitive market. In a crowded market even low-value properties need to stand out. A well-staged home can make all the difference when potential buyers are comparing similar properties they have viewed in the same price range.
- Staging can be tailored to suit modest homes. Staging high-end properties may require big budgets, but that does not mean there are no staging packages that would fit smaller budgets and still be impactful. Take for example simple changes like decluttering, strategically rearranging existing furniture and accessorising, can make a space more appealing, giving it advantage over those that have not been staged.
- Even for low-value properties, home staging can lead to faster sales and higher offers. Staged homes tend to be perceived as move-in-ready which may fuel a sense of urgency (i.e., “if I don’t buy it now, someone else will”) and an increased willingness to pay more. Studies show that staged homes often sell faster and for more than unstaged properties, no matter the price point.
- Low-value properties may have limitations like smaller spaces or fewer features, but staging can help to showcase potential. Clever furniture arrangement and clutter-free spaces can make spaces feel larger and demonstrate functionality, improving how the value of the property is perceived by the viewers. Staging is not about making properties look perfect, but more about showcasing potential for viewers to judge how the property could work for them. Take for example this space at the end of a hallway in a 2-bedroom flat in the picture below:
Without staging, it is just a space, but with thoughtful and creative staging it can be a cosy reading nook, a work-at-home station or a homework corner away from the bustle of the lounge. Now, have a look at the same space after staging in the pictures below:
This same space may now appear like a bonus to a potential buyer, an extra space they were not expecting in a 2-bed flat. This is the beauty of home staging, presenting options and potential, and I bet this gives this 2-bed flat advantage over many other comparable ones.
There you have it! Home Staging is invaluable for properties of all price-ranges! That it is for high-end properties only is just but a myth! So, if you are thinking of selling your property (high-end or modest), consider home staging services well before listing the property on the market because home staging is a crucial marketing tool. For those in and around the Fylde Coast, do not hesitate to contact Simply Stunning Styling for help with making your property stand out on the often-crowded market. Be in with a fair chance of selling your property faster and for more – give us a call, send us an email and we will work our magic for you.
Thanks for reading this. Cheers for now, catch up again in our next blog where we will talk about the myth that home staging is too expensive. Bela bowing out. X