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First impressions do count – and they can help in making the ultimate decision to buy or reject a property. The property market is still at a peak and there is much competitiveness behind the scenes. Hence, in order to obtain the best deal, it is important to project a property in the most attractive way so that a prospective buyer’s attention is immediately caught. This is even more so in the areas where property sales and prices are rising, such as the Cheltenham apartments for sale.
While property staging came into existence in the 1970s with Barb Schwarz from the USA inventing the staging concept, it is now recommended by almost all realtors and is known to raise the price of a property by a considerable percentage.
Budget: One of the first factors to consider when proceeding to stage a property is the budget. You will need to calculate the cost of staging against the price of the property and the hopeful rise in price after the property staging is carried out. Usually, a 1% amount of the property value is set aside for staging. After staging, some properties have been known to sell at nearly 10% more than the original value! Whether professional help should be called in to do the staging or whether the property owner can do it on his/her own is another factor to consider. Once there is a budget in place, the other details can be seen to.
More spacious: In the current scenario where everyone is looking for larger, more spacious accommodation, it is wise to present the property so that it gives the impression of additional space. Removing unwanted furniture or arranging furniture in such a way that it creates extra space is one of the simple ways to achieve this. Placing furniture against walls creates more space. If the room is narrow, then bulky furniture should be removed and replaced with space-saving furniture. Furniture with exposed legs, like couches and coffee tables, add a touch of elegance and, since there is visual space around them, they keep the buyer from concentrating on any overcrowded areas. Adding a mirror to a wall also makes the room look bigger. Long curtains and vertical paintings on walls can help the room appear to be higher than it is.
Additional light: Increasing natural light in a home adds to the ambience and is an important factor in making the property more attractive to a prospective buyer. It can also save on energy. There are many ways to do this. Not only does adding a mirror to a wall create the effect of more space, if a mirror is placed opposite a window, it can increase the amount of sunlight entering the room. Glass furniture or accessories will also help bounce sunlight into a room. Lighter coloured upholstery on sofas, cushions etc will also brighten the area. Bright, airy curtains will also allow more light in than heavy drapes.
Painting the house: A newly painted house is always welcoming to a new owner. The palette colours should be carefully chosen to make the house most attractive. Dark shades absorb light and make the place look gloomy, so it is wise to choose light colours which will not only make the rooms look bigger but will brighten the space as well. Also, if the ceiling is done in a shade lighter than the walls, it will enhance space and make the room look bigger and brighter. Eaves protect the house from bad weather; if they are painted in a white or light colour maintenance-free material like vinyl, they could add to the natural light shining through the windows on a sunny day.
Cleaning and decluttering: A simple feature of having the home cleaned and removing clutter makes a big difference to the buyer’s opinion. Removing clutter creates more space and neatens the rooms. Cupboards should be cleared and personal items removed. Clean rooms with bright, dusted furniture and artefacts is definitely a plus point. Washing the windows and any glass doors inside and out will ensure even more light filtering into the house.
Repairs: In addition to the major highlights of staging, the focus should also be on small details. Repairs and maintenance should be carried out. Replacing broken cupboard handles or fitting new taps could add to the appeal of the property. Something simple such as placing matching hand and bath towels, bedsheets and pillow cases could enhance the “first impressions”.
Conclusion: It is a fact that property staging is gaining momentum in the UK. It has been recommended to both property sellers and landlords as well. With life coming back to near normal and schools, universities, businesses and offices resuming, the rental market is also in demand. By staging small apartments to appeal to tenants, landlords can also benefit. With the increase in property prices recorded after staging has been conducted, it definitely looks as if property staging is gaining traction and is steadily growing.
