Veneer Virtues:

Anyone with a television will have noticed the myriad of property renovation shows currently dominating prime time slots on the small screen.  Spend a few minutes watching any one of these programs and you will notice that they are often less focussed on the actual property than they are on the interior dressing.  Why? Because dressing sells.

In fact, as any home builder with beautifully staged display homes will tell you, buyers will pay substantially more for a house which is aesthetically appealing.  This is despite the fact that they are aware that the home's contents are not offered in the sale.

In the higher-end market, staging a home for sale is now an integral part of agents and developers selling campaigns.  If your home is selling in direct competition to theirs, will the comparison be favourable?

I have worked with elite home staging services in Melbourne and can attest to the fact that  quality dressing lifts the buyer’s perception of a property which has a direct positive effect on the selling price.  Here’s why…

Subtle Psychological Staging

What home styling is selling to buyers is an aspirational lifestyle.

By combining stunning luxury with comfortable familiarity, buyer’s should be overcome by a feeling of ‘this is where I want to live!’  It is this emotional connection with a property which inspires buyers to dig a little deeper when it comes to negotiating the selling price.

Styling usually involves a neutral colour pallette which flows throughout a home.

This is done to appeal to widest audience possible whilst suggesting a feeling of space. Light is used to create ambience which affects buyers senses, whilst soft scents are often used as a subtle trigger to evoke a calming atmosphere.

Tables are often dressed as if ready for use.  This allows buyers to imagine themselves already living in the home, strengthening that emotional tie.

Flexible floor plan

Styling rooms can give buyers perspective as to the home’s flexibility.  By incorporating desirable spaces, buyers are open to numerous floor plan options they may never have considered, such as:

• Reading nooks
• Study areas
• Parent’s retreat
• Mud rooms
• Games areas
• Music room

Size Effects

It is a fact that many vacant rooms can appear smaller than they actually are.  To counteract this, home stylists use dressing to give perspective.  An example of this is placing a double bed in a bedroom.  By visual demonstration, prospective buyers are able to gain proper insights into the true size and usability of a room.

In this same manner, using smaller furniture combined with large mirrors can create a feeling of space in a smaller living or family room.  Adding a compact writing desk can give the illusion that the room is large enough to accommodate two distinct zones, enhancing the feeling of space.

Mass Appeal

Many people struggle to dress their homes as successfully as a professional simply because they rely on their personal tastes.  A professional has the ability to view the home unemotionally.  This enables them to make design and decor decisions such as removing dated furniture or paint colours, which the owner may have a sentimental attachment to.

A professional home stylist is also trained to know which styles work with each type of home and what buyers in that property’s price point are expecting--contemporary, high end, classic, elegant, cool chic and everything in between…

Lasting Impressions

When prospective buyers leave your home and move on to the next house inspection, you want to have left them with an indelible memory of your home as a delightful and desirable option.  Buyers will be making comparisons between you home and the competition, stage your home to perfection and there to be no contest.  Even the most modest home can benefit from this effect--lifting it into the next price bracket.

Many vendors are reluctant to stage their homes for sale feeling the expense is not worth the reward.  This is false economy in light of the fact that research has proven that houses sell faster and for higher sums when they have been staged for sale.

Your home is your most valuable asset, so getting the basic selling strategies in place before you place it on the market is vital.  By implementing a comprehensive marketing campaign, professional home styling and a hardworking agent, you can achieve a premium price for your property.