So you’ve decided to sell or rent out your property & would potentially like to use the services of a Home Stager to help you achieve your goal in getting your property ready so that it can hit the market with a ‘bang’ & make a great first impression!
Here’s a bit of information to help explain what to expect, the next steps…
Initial enquiry
A professional Home Stager will start by fact finding, asking questions about the property & your situation to gain an understanding of how they may be able to help. Basic information about the property including size, condition, age, location, timescales, circumstances, budget & any other relevant information will all be discussed.
Next Step
If the Stager feels they are able to assist, they will need to visually inspect the entire property, both inside & out, make detailed notes of each space & take photographs. This can be done in a number of ways, from a physical inspection to a virtual video call, or in some cases by viewing detailed photographs supplied by the property owner. Where possible, visiting the property is advised as the Stager is able to get a better feel for the space, light, atmosphere, location etc & see it in it’s current state as a potential buyer would.
A full property report is then produced detailing action points & recommendations of changes to be made. The report will highlight areas that need attention & prioritise any changes to be made according to the impact they will have. The report also takes into consideration available budget & timescale.
If the property is vacant, the report will recommend the use of furnishings & accessories the Stager feels will enhance the space & maximise it’s appeal. (Interestingly only 20% of the population are able to see the potential in an empty property which is why Staging is so beneficial.)
The Stager may have their own inventory or use a furniture rental company, or a mixture of the two. In some cases, furniture & accessories that are bought specifically for Staging a property are included within the sale or rental agreement, or sold in addition.
Following the report…
The next stage varies according to whether the property owner personally chooses to implement the changes or feels they may require assistance. This is often time, budget & skill dependent according to each individual & their circumstances . Property Developers for example may wish to hand the entire project over to the Stager, whereas owners who live in the property may prefer to take all or part of the work on themselves.
Home Stagers are able to help with most of the aspects contained in the report, or know qualified, reputable tradespeople that they can provide the details for, though in many cases the changes required are relatively straight forward & do not require 3rd party input.
Where items need to be purchased, most Stagers are able to assist with this or provide recommendations which can save both time & money.
Where involvement is required from the Home Stager, an action plan is then put in place.
After the recommended changes have been actioned…
The Home Stager will usually then arrange to visit the property to put the final touches in place in the ‘showcasing’ or ‘final dressing’ stage. Depending on the amount of work involved, the Stager (& assistant where necessary) will usually spend half day / full day at the property, positioning furniture & accessories to maximise the space’s full potential & make sure it is photo shoot / market ready. A similar approach applies when Staging an empty property, though the level of involvement & timescales vary.
Your property will now be ready to welcome the Agents, be photographed & hit the market with a ‘bang’, making a fantastic first impression!
We always recommend using the services of a professional photographer to show your property in its best light. It has a really positive impact on both on-line images and printed marketing material.
See below the after and before Staging images………
(It is always advisable to use the services of a qualified Professional Home Stager who has undertaken the necessary training & reached the standards as set out by the Home Staging Association for the UK & Ireland. I will cover the basics of how to find a Professional Home Stager in another blog)
As always, if we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch, details can be found on our contact us page www.coastalhomestyling.co.uk/contact