Newsletter - Home Staging Article

When Staging a property for sale – Use your senses!

Staging your home for sale is not all about the way it looks to buyers; it’s also about the way it feels. Buyers have short listed properties by using certain criteria – what rooms they need, where they want to be located etc. However, once a shortlist has been finalised and they start viewing these potential home, buyers react to property with their emotions, and emotions are triggered by all the senses, not just sight.

How does this work in practise? After all – touching, tasting, smelling and hearing are surely not on buyers minds, right? – WRONG. All these senses are being subconsciously stimulated when a buyer views your property, and if one of them produces a negative reaction, the buyer will feel something isn’t right with your property (even if they can’t put their finger on it), and will move onto the next house on their shortlist. They need to be able to visualise themselves living there, so using all their senses helps to ensure that they form a positive bond with your home and that it stands out above its competition.

Sound

Silence is deadly, but loud noises can be too. You need to find a middle ground for selling. Try and ensure children and animals are quiet or out of the house for viewings, that the TV is off, washing machine isn’t running etc. Buyers don’t want to be reminded that this is your home; they just want to picture themselves living there. They don’t want to think about the daily running of a home, they want to be inspired to a better way of life. Relaxing background music is perfect (classic fm works well!), this also creates a little background noise so that buyers feel that they can talk between themselves without being overheard. It will make them feel more comfortable in your home, and more inclined to take their time looking around.

Smell

The olfactory sense is the strongest and most memorable of the 5 senses. Got a dog? Do you smoke? Just cooked a meal? You may not be able to smell it, but I can guarantee that buyers will pick up on any smells in your home, good or bad. Use a friend to give you an honest opinion, and rectify the issue wherever possible. Have carpets cleaned, open windows etc. and when viewings take place ensure that the buyers are smelling fresh flowers, pot pouri and scented candles rather than last nights take away!

Sight

This goes without saying – ensure your home looks the best it can – get it staged professionally if necessary – the look of your home is a key selling point. Declutter, clean, tidy, redecorate – make it stand out amongst the competition in the photos taken by your estate agent – draw those buyers in.

Touch

Although buyers aren’t going to go around your home touching everything they see, don’t underestimate this sense. Buyers will touch areas like work surfaces (are they real granite etc.), and showers (are they powerful). The last thing you want is for them to feel crumbs or dirt as this sends out the signal that the house isn’t cared for. Ensure your home is the cleanest it’s ever been. If your home looks as new as possible it will entice more buyers.

Taste

Now, this is slightly more tenuous a link, but it is vital that your buyers’ tastes can be seen within your home. Obviously you don’t know who your buyer will be, (you may be able to ascertain the demographic of your most likely purchaser), and therefore a neutral looking home works best for selling. Depersonalise, add neutral colours to walls and floors, and generally try to emulate more of a show home feel. For ideas on how to achieve the look for selling, why not take a look in a show home. This will give plenty of inspiration on what buyers are looking for.

If you use all the senses when selling your home your buyer will leave with a really strong positive emotional response – and it will ensure your home is remembered long after the viewing.