To style or not to style, Judith Treanor, Buyer’s Agent
To stage or not to stage that is the question.
As a former interior designer and renovations project manager, I’ve always believed in the power of first impressions. In the world of real estate, staging or styling a home for sale is not just about making it look beautiful – it’s about creating an environment that potential buyers can imagine themselves living in.
Recently, an IWMs’ member asked the group whether she should follow her agent’s advice to make minor improvements before listing her property. The potential cost might seem daunting, but the benefits of presenting your home in its best light are undeniable. Updates like a fresh coat of paint, new carpets, or modern lighting fixtures can significantly enhance a property’s appeal. I’ve completed many renovations myself so I’m able to see past clutter and dated kitchens and bathrooms (in fact I get excited about the possibility of adding value!), but most buyers out there cannot. Or if they can, many are too time poor to want to buy then update and renovate.
🛋️ What is styling or staging?
Styling, or staging, is a technique where professionals use carefully chosen furniture and decor to enhance the visual appeal of a property. To homeowners already grappling with the cost of real estate agent fees, conveyancing fees and marketing, I understand how paying extra for styling your home can be off putting, but when it comes to improving your property for sale, and staging it, the proof really is in the pudding. The listings on RealEstate.com.au and Domain which have more days on market (ie the properties that take longer to sell) are the ones that haven’t been decluttered or styled. If you are selling a ‘renovators delight’ then perhaps it’s fine to leave it up to the buyer’s imagination, but if you’re selling a ‘lifestyle’ then make that clear to the market – and styling is the easiest way to do that.
Styling a home for sale isn’t just about throwing in a few fancy cushions and perfectly draping those all-important throws over the beds and the end of the sofa. Effective styling should resonate with the property’s character and the lifestyle it promises. It involves a strategic layout of furniture, art, and accessories that highlight the home’s strengths and downplay its flaws. If suitable, a stylist can sometimes work with your existing furniture and accessories , or amalgamate them into the overall styling plan – which should also save you money.
As a Buyer’s Agent I inspect hundreds of properties in a year and I do have an issue that staged homes often end up looking interchangeable, with similar rental furniture – for example, a cream fluffy occasional chair which seemed to appear in every styled home last last year – repetitive artworks, and those ubiquitous neutral tones that are meant to be universally appealing.
To truly stand out, it’s worth considering adding pops of colour and unique elements that reflect a more lived-in, authentic feel – something that invites buyers to see a unique lifestyle, not just a showroom. One example is a Federation cottage in Lilyfield which was on the market last year. The agents styled the home using the owner’s furniture and it worked perfectly because the owner’s furniture suited the period style of the home so well.
💰 How much does it cost to style a home?
The cost of professional styling can vary, typically ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 or more depending on the size and location of the property. It’s hard to say categorically how much the investment will pay off, but in today’s competitive market, a styled property is a must in Sydney
The disadvantage of staging your home is the hassle of maintaining the picture perfect look – if you’re still living in the property during the sales campaign. It’s not easy keeping a styled home in pristine condition with hotel standard ironed sheets, kitchens with everything packed away and tidy wardrobes – especially with kids and pets in the home. We’re not all experts in perfectly plumping cushions on each bed, and toddlers and cream sofas don’t always mix! But when you see that sold sticker on the sales board at the end of the campaign, it will all have been worth it!
❓Still debating on whether to style your home? Let these stats do the talking.
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- Impact of Staging on Sale Price: In NSW, professionally staged homes sell for 5-10% more than non-staged homes.
- Time on Market for Staged Homes: Properties that are professionally staged spend 30% less time on the market compared to those that are not.
- Buyer Interest Increase: Homes that are staged receive 20% more inquiries from potential buyers.
- Effect of Decluttering: Properties that are decluttered and depersonalized sell 15% faster than those that are not.
- Return on Investment for Staging: The average ROI for home staging in NSW is between 150% and 30
- Reduction in Price Adjustments: Properties that are staged professionally are 25% less likely to undergo price reductions.
Source: “Inadequate staging can make your home less appealing and harder to sell”, CM Lawyers.
Judith Treanor is a Buyer’s Agent specialising in the Inner West and the Lower North Shore.
Want to learn more about Judith? Read our recent Getting To Know You interview where Judith shares her journey to becoming one of the Inner West’s most sought-after buyer’s agents.
Judith Treanor, Buyer’s Agent
☎️ 0438 523 064
https://keystosydney.com.au/
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