Less is more when home staging for buyers

There is a fine line between a beautifully maintained home and one that has been overstaged with too many perfectly placed pillows, overpowering air fresheners and reams of artificial flowers.

Presenting a home full of staging cliches can polarise buyers, according to Team Leader The Agency Perth Director and Property Partner Joshua Leader.

“While a staged property can drastically increase appeal and interest, overstaging will detract from the home and drag the focus onto the props,” he said.

“This can have an adverse reaction and reduce the interest, as buyers are not trained to see past the staging.”

However, when done correctly, dressing a home can be one of the most beneficial strategies to extract the best price.

“It helps buyers visualise and imagine themselves in the space and living day to day,” Mr Leader said. “It also effectively assists their ability to identify the size of the home and give a clear idea of how their furniture and valued possessions will fit and suit the space.”

A simple declutter and clean is sometimes all it takes to present an abode at its best, with Mr Leader saying properties that are well dressed can make a massive difference to an achievable price.

“We had a townhouse in Claremont, which we staged, and it ended up achieving $55,000 more than a vacant townhouse that sold just three months prior in the same complex,” he said.

If you simply can’t part with the faux plants or decorative throws, Realmark Coastal Sales Associate Shirley Heslip said the next best step was to enlist the expertise of a good real estate agent.

“Vendors should definitely seek the assistance of a real estate agent when preparing their home for sale,” she said.

“We can give advice on how to best present the property, as we know how it will translate in photos and appeal to buyers. We can also recommend some wonderful companies that can assist with professional styling.”

According to Ms Heslip, a property becomes overstaged when too many pieces of furniture are used or an abundance of decor items are added.

“This could make the residence feel cluttered and the spaces appear smaller,” she said.

“I have seen homes where too many decor items have been used and they are not adding any appeal to the property – for instance, multiple arrangements of artificial flowers scattered throughout the home or a multitude of cushions and throws that don’t tie into the colour scheme or decor.”

According to Ms Heslip, home staging should elevate the look of a home, which would then equate to a higher perception of value.

“Not only does home staging give perspective to rooms in terms of size and useability but it also evokes a sense of lifestyle,” Ms Heslip said.

“It makes a big difference to how the property is perceived by buyers – both in the initial engagement phase when a prospective buyer views the photos and then at the home open stage when an emotional connection to the property is made.”