Interior Designer Kerrie Discusses Dressing a House For Sale

Is it all worth the bother, Kerrie discusses with Emma Romaine-Jones from Shrewsbury’s Fine and Country.

Is it all worthwhile dressing a house for sale?

Absolutely! Having a properly dressed and well-presented property makes a huge difference to the marketing and sale of a home and people's view of that home, not to mention people's perception of value. Our properties are aspirational and the way they are styled makes a difference to the inquiries and number of clicks online and the number of people who wish to view them. For example, an image of a half-made bed with no scatter cushions or throws will not look as good or market as well as an image with those boxes, ticked. A bathroom shot with the loo seat up, the toilet paper hanging on the wall and the loo brush on display with not present as well as the seat down and the paper and brush removed. It may sound silly but it makes a difference! As does a bright orange repainted to a more on-trend colour.

Would you sell a dishwasher faulty a car dirty? if the answer is maybe, ask yourself if you would buy it broken or dirty if the answer is no then its worth maximising your asset. It can be worth tens of thousands of pounds more.

Emma is an estate agent/branch, manager for Fine & Country Shrewsbury and has been a property agent for over 15 years.

I met Emma in November 2020 and was impressed with her attention to detail we discussed to dress or not to dress! and being an interior designer it was an absolute must for me but a lot of work, here I discuss with Emma why we did it.

Blog on to dress or not to dress your home for sale 

I am selling my house at the moment and as an interior designer, every last touch is important to me but is it important to get a sale I ask Emma Romaine Jones from Shrewsbury Fine and country.

I think it is very important that those special touches are covered when selling a property, even down to having candles lit and fresh flowers, not only to get as many people as possible through the door but also for the wow factor for when potential buyers walk through the door, as we all know the first impression is extremely important and the property is one of the biggest purchases most of us will make. By investing a few thousand getting your property up to the right level that money will be recovered and increased, not to mention the property should sell quicker.

Emma as you know I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I am trying to educate people to spend to sell. How important is it really to get that sale, that room that needs painting that door that doesn’t shut properly those stains on the carpet, and that untidy garden?

Hugely important, when people walk around your property they are already deducting from the price what it would cost to paint that room, fix the door, replace the carpet, update the garden – we don’t want them walking around reducing the asking price in their head before the viewing is even over. We want them to feel confident nothing needs doing and that they want to put a fantastic offer forward.

How important is it to dress your house for a sale?

Is it a myth to have the smell of fresh bread or a cake and coffee?

Absolutely not a myth, all these factors add to the ambience, and potential viewers picturing themselves living there. 

A lot of people say to me Emma, I’m not going to spend any money I’m moving, but I usually say would you take your car to a car dealer for a valuation dirty, would you go into a job interview in scruffy clothes and messy hair? What are your thoughts? If we put a new bathroom in does it increase the value?

Any sensible new additions and updates to the property, for example updating an old bathroom will add to the saleability and the value of the property but within reason. If you have gold-encrusted handles for example with full marble flooring, those are lifestyle choices of the current owner and wouldn’t necessarily get cost back. So yes, update and enhance but in a neutral style and within reason.

Does a tidy well decorated immaculate house achieve a better price?

Simply, yes. It’s all about perceived value and if the house is tidy and immaculately decorated, viewers naturally think things are looked after, like the roof, damp….and are less likely to worry about hidden issues. If the house is untidy and not well presented, what else could be wrong?

If you see a house which had too much work needed would you still take it on to sell?

It depends on how different and quirky the property was – we would recommend at the very least getting a few rooms in good, presentable order for marketing and to give the potential buyers an idea of what else can be achieved.

How does having dogs in the house affect a viewing I personally find this a complete put off. 

We always recommend the property doesn’t smell of dog, so burning a candle, air freshener if this is the case. We also recommend that our furry friends are not present whilst viewings take place.

How about depersonalisation, I tend to remove personal items so they can see themselves in the house. I know you EMMA like to sit them down at the end in my lounge, in particular, I always sit them with the backs to the window facing the full aspect of the room so they can get a feel for space what are your tips.

Once again, Kerrie, I am in complete agreement. When showing a house it’s a great idea to strip back. So for example rather than having twenty picture frames on your console have four, put your china set way, remove the toaster, kettle, cooking utensils from the kitchen, replace with a candle, a vase with fresh flowers. Making the space seem larger, clutter-free, and less of the owner on display and more of a lifestyle your viewers want to jump into.

 I choose Emma to sell my house because she seemed to care, she called me when she said she would and has kept in contact even after taking me on she is always open to discussions about improving everything and open to my thoughts.

Finally, Emma what did you think to the before and after of Wood Farm House turnaround in 48 hours, and what do you think to the way I get the house ready on viewings.

Firstly very impressive, we aren’t all lucky enough to have your skills. I do recommend approaching people like you Kerrie, when thinking of selling, The way you presented Wood Farm House was truly lovely, styled yet homely, chic yet welcoming, not cluttered, depersonalised, the fire crackling, candles burning it completely set the right tone for your potential buyers.

Blog on to dress or not to dress your home for sale? This is the question.

I am selling my house at the moment and as an interior designer, every last touch is important to me but is it important to get a sale I ask Emma Romaine Jones from Shrewsbury Fine and country.

This was the lounge before dressing!

 

 

Emma as you know I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I am trying to educate people to spend to sell. How important is it really to get that sale, that room that needs painting that door that doesn’t shut properly those stains on the carpet and that untidy garden?

How important is it to dress your house for a sale?
Is it a myth to have the smell of fresh bread or a cake and coffee?
A lot of people say to me Emma, I’m not going to spend any money I’m moving, but I usually say would you take your car to a car dealer for a valuation dirty, would you go into a job interview in scruffy clothes and messy hair? What are your thoughts? If we put a new bathroom in does it really increase the value?
Does a tidy well decorated immaculate house achieve a better price?
If you see a house which had too much work needed would you still take it on to sell?
How does having dogs in the house affect a viewing I personally find this a complete put off.
How about depersonalisation, I tend to remove personal items so they can see themselves in the house. I know you EMMA like to sit them down at the end in my lounge, in particular, I always sit them with the backs to the window facing the full aspect of the room so they can get a feel for the space what are your tips.

I choose Emma to sell my house because she seemed to care, she called me when she said she would and has kept in contact even after taking me on she is always open to discussions about improving everything and open to my thoughts.

Finally, Emma what did you think to the before and after of Wood Farm House turnaround in 48 hours and what do you think to the way I get the house ready on viewings.