Home Staging Mistakes To Avoid: Expert Tips For Success

Home staging is all about enhancing the appeal of a property to potential buyers once it’s on the market, through the way it’s presented. That includes décor, furniture and accessories which create a warm, welcoming and, crucially, neutral and clutter-free environment. With staging, you allow prospective purchasers to picture themselves living in the place.

There are numerous benefits to home staging, including a typically faster sale for a better price, plus more viewings and offers. But getting it right is a fine balance; equally, it’s something that’s easy to get wrong. Here are some common staging mistakes to avoid:

1.)    Making the place too personal to you

Try to keep family photos and knick-knacks or intensely personalised décor to a minimum. If your space is neutral and clutter-free, viewers can mentally project their own things and style onto the home. We all have our own styles and preferences, but if yours are quite bold, they may not be to everyone’s tastes.

2.)    Not doing small repairs

Minor maintenance niggles can put people off more than you may realise. That includes things like leaky taps, doors which squeak and chipped paint. Not only are these things easy to put right, but they make a disproportionately good impression of somewhere that has been properly looked after. No viewer wants to see a string of repairs they’ll need to do after moving in.

3.)    Ignoring the hallway

More than you may have realised, your hall sets the tone for your whole property and makes that all-important first impression. Keep it bright, welcoming and clutter-free and let in as much light as you can. Think about hanging a mirror to give a feeling of space, or have fresh flowers on a table. If the flooring looks tired, a new stair runner can transform this space instantly.

4.)    Not cleaning the bathroom

This may sound like an obvious one, but it’s surprising how many people overlook this key area of their home. Clear as many toiletries as possible, clean grout, empty bins and put down the lid on the loo. Neutral-coloured towels and matching (minimal) toiletries create a spa-like look.

5.)    Not giving spare rooms a defined purpose

If your spare room is empty or cluttered, this can be a missed opportunity. Make it into a home office, reading or guest room or playroom to showcase its true potential.

6.)    Not thinking about how you’ve arranged the furniture

Arrange furniture to create a sense of flow between rooms, rather than just doing the obvious thing and pushing it against the wall. It may also be worth making sure the pieces are the right size for the space, and don’t make it feel cramped or empty.

7.)    Not thinking about light

This is really important. Open up curtains and blinds to maximise natural light, and use bulbs of the appropriate wattage.

8.)    Not maximising kerb appeal

As you know, initial impressions matter, and the outside of your house – the driveway, front garden, pathway and exterior painting, windows and so on – contribute significantly to what someone sees and therefore feels when they first arrive. Make sure this aspect of the property is in the best condition it can be.

How McGlashans can help

At McGlashans, a London-based, family-run firm established in 1988, we specialise in luxury property sales and rentals. We’re known for our attention to detail, while our reputation has been built up over the years based almost entirely on word of mouth.

We offer expert, tailored interior design and home staging services, and for the latter work with developers, architects and property owners to help the client secure the fastest possible sale at the best possible price.

Take the first step to effective, elegant home staging today and get in touch.