The costly mistake of not home staging.

I think one thing we can agree on when we attend market appraisals, is that every home is different and how they are presented for sale can vary dramatically.  We have previously talked about honesty when conducting an appraisal, and how to broach the subject of home staging.  I had a great response on this subject so thought we would look at this more closely.

If a home is well presented for sale there is no doubt that you can achieve the highest net price.  But why do so many of us feel as though we can’t advise our clients on this subject?  In some cases we even blame the clients for not staging their home, even though we have not asked them to.  I admit it is difficult to talk to clients about something so personal but if we are really working in the best interests of our clients and adding value, surely we should be doing everything within our power to ensure that they have a successful sale.

I met an agent a few months ago who had produced a great booklet on home staging that they added to their marketing pack.  The booklet explained the importance of homes staging, it offered simple key points with before and after images to clearly show the difference it can make.  The agent explained, “We found some clients needed time to digest the advice we gave on home staging, and also some of our agents found it a hard subject to cover.  Talking through the booklet not only helped our clients gain a better understanding, but also our agents felt it made it easier to discuss.  We produced it in conjunction with a few key local suppliers, e.g. a home stager, garden maintenance and home repairs.  As this was an advertising tool for them also, they invested which meant it was produced at very little cost to us.”

The agent also told me that this booklet has attracted new referral instructions as his clients felt they were offering a higher level of service.

I am not suggesting that we all follow this agent’s method of introducing home staging to our clients, but I want you to think how you can ensure it becomes an integral part of your company’s appraisal.

You don’t want to overwhelm your clients with too much information, but guide them slowly to a successful outcome.  I would suggest the main points to initially cover:

  • Repair anything that is broken
  • Freshen up all paintwork and tone down where required
  • De-clutter every room and surface
  • Clean the house thoroughly
  • Ensure every room has a purpose
  • Don’t forget to do the same outside
  • Add plants and fresh flowers

One thing I think you need to ask your teams, do they know how to stage a home?  Maybe you should cover the subject in one of your team meetings?  Have some fun by sharing a selection of scary photographs littering the internet, or maybe invite a local home stager to give you pointers for the more difficult properties.

However you decide to tackle home staging within your business, never forget falling to acknowledge it could cost you.

Stephen Brown

Consultant to Estate Agents with the focus of generating more revenue. Over 20 years of industry experience having been a Director of an award winning London Agency.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Popping the Asking Price Bubble

Where in the Uk Can Buyers Snap Up Property Bargains and Where Properties Go for a Premium Above Asking Price   New research from fast selling property company, Upstix has uncovered the UK’s most surprising postcodes for snapping up a property at bargain prices this year, highlighting a widening gap between sellers’ expectations and the…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Highest demand to lease office space since pre-pandemic

The latest insights from the UK’s number one commercial property website Rightmove, reveals that the number of unique enquiries to lease office space is at its highest point since pre-pandemic, as businesses look for spaces that meet modern requirements. Demand to lease office space is 19% higher than the same period a year ago and…
Read More
Planning disputes on new build land
Estate Agent Talk

Planning consultations for major infrastructure to be streamlined

Robert Bruce, a planning and infrastructure partner at law firm Freeths LLP, said he: “Welcomed the change as a significant step to speeding up the DCO process and the focus on the quality and effectiveness of the consultation, rather than box ticking and a risk averse approach to pre-application consultation due to the current legal…
Read More
Breaking News

‘The property ladder pulls further away’ warns Open Property Group

For many first-time buyers across England, the dream of homeownership continues to slip further out of reach. Despite rising wages, soaring house prices are making it harder than ever to get on the property ladder. A leading UK professional house buying company ‘Open Property Group’ based in Buckinghamshire UK, has raised concerns over the ongoing…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

How Long It Takes to Buy a House in the UK: 5 Common Delays That Can Slow Down Your Home Purchase

Wondering how long it takes to buy a house in the UK? The average timeline ranges from 8 to 22 weeks, but even that can stretch significantly due to unexpected delays, especially if you’re a first-time buyer or caught in a chain. That’s why working with experienced professionals like Belvoir — one of the UK’s…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove to host Renters’ Rights Bill webinar with Guild of Lettings

Rightmove is hosting a live and interactive webinar session with the Guild of Lettings to help agents get Renters’ Rights Ready. The webinar will take place from 10:00am – 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd April. Susie Crolla, Managing Director for the Guild of Lettings, will be joining Rightmove to help agents with questions they may have about…
Read More