Your questions answered

 

JUNE

Could I stage a property myself?

by  |1 minute read

Because professionally staged properties spend 50% less time on the market and can often sell over asking price, it is a real benefit to stage before marketing.

If you’re not sure what staging entails, or would like to try it yourself, here’s my 30 SECOND ⏱ guide to staging an empty property for sale.

1. Assess your property’s best features.

2. Be clear on who your IDEAL buyer is and create a list of furniture and decor for each room. It’s not about your taste, so focus on neutral basics – you’ll be able to add texture and colour with accessories.

3. Research prices for hiring furniture. Assembly and installation is often an extra charge. Consider enlisting help to move furniture and always adopt safe lifting techniques.

4. If you can’t afford to hire all your items, ask friends and family for donations. Organise your logistics for picking these up, including boxes and environmentally-friendly packing materials. Ensure your insurance covers your ‘loans’.

5. Double-check your furniture will go through that tight door and up that narrow staircase.

6. Installation day! Take delivery of your items. You’ll need a basic tool kit. Once assembled, arrange the furniture in each room. (Retain packaging to protect things you need to transport again.)

7. Clearly define the use of each room. Think about traffic flow and work with the proportions of each room. Remember, 9 out of 10 people can’t imagine their furniture in an empty space, so you’re already doing a great job!

8. Add value with thoughtful touches, like a cosy reading nook on a well-lit landing.

9. Now for those finishing touches: crisp bed linen, mirrors, generous canvases, floor and table lamps, cushions and throws. Stick to a simple, cohesive colour palette.

10. Nearly there! Do a final walk through to check every detail. Bring in your professional photographer or use a high quality camera phone and edit your images later. Make sure all your hard work translates into show-stopping marketing materials!

And there you have it, a speedy guide to the art of professional home staging.

Staging costs around 1% of your home’s value, offering a great return on investment, or as we like to call it at Annabel & Co, a great return on interiors! Our fee for staging a three bedroom property for Sale starts at £2,367.

For a chat about staging any property, contact Annabel & Co.

MAY

Maximising the value of a Probate property

by  |3 minute read

Type Advice for selling a probate property into a search engine and you are bombarded by companies offering to buy your loved-one’s home for a knocked-down price.

This blog post is written for anyone wanting to move through the sale of a probate property in the knowledge they realised the best possible price. Becoming the executor of someone’s Will is not just about totting up their assets and selling their house. It’s often about honouring the memories and legacies of their life. If you are struggling with the death of a loved one, I am sorry for your loss; executorship isn’t something we are taught in school and the responsibility can feel daunting.

Firstly, I am not a probate expert, I am a home stager. The UK government’s website offers comprehensive guidance on probate and estate administration. Additionally, a good starting point could be the moneysavingexpert.com’s guide to probate.

While selling a probate property can be emotionally taxing, there are steps you can take to ease the process and maximise the value of the property. As with selling any home, perception matters and none so more with a probate property. If a buyer believes that you’re desperate to off-load the property quickly, they may be inclined to make a low offer.

By investing a little time and effort into ‘staging’ the property first, you can create a positive impression and increase the likelihood of receiving higher offers. But what IS home staging? Home staging means preparing a property for sale, or ‘setting the stage’ for a potential buyer to fall in love with it the moment they walk up the path.

So, grab a cuppa and let’s dive into tips about presenting your probate home for sale.

  • Showcasing full potential: Firstly, tidy up any outdoor space, clean the windows and carpets and install fresh voile drapes to let the light in!

    In empty homes, 9 out of 10 buyers say they struggle to picture where they would place their furniture, and even walk away thinking empty rooms are smaller than their true dimensions!

    As a minimum, stage the living room, principal bedroom, and kitchen. Place furniture and stylish decor touches in a way that highlights the best features of each room. This will give each room a clear purpose and make the space feel warmer and more inviting.

    Staging is proven to help potential buyers picture themselves living in the property, increasing the likelihood of an offer.

  • Great marketing photos: In today’s digital age, first impressions are often made online. Insist on professional photography, as well-lit, well-composed images will entice more buyers to schedule viewings and ultimately more offers.
  • Speeding up the sale process: A well-staged property is statistically more likely to sell quickly. By creating an appealing and desirable space, staging can generate more interest from buyers, leading to a shorter time on the market. This is particularly beneficial when selling a probate property, as speeding up the process will minimise the time and effort required to manage the property’s upkeep.
  • Attracting higher offers: Finally, staging can help attract higher offers for the property. When buyers perceive a home as desirable, they may be willing to pay more for it. Stylish staging with broad appeal can create a sense of urgency among buyers, leading to competitive bidding situations that drive up the sale price.

Selling a probate property in the UK is undoubtedly a challenging process, both emotionally and practically. By acknowledging the stresses involved, understanding the probate process, and working with professionals who understand the nuances of selling probate properties, you can navigate the journey successfully.

It’s not just about selling a house; it’s about honouring the memories and legacies of those who have died. So, take your time, be kind to yourself, and trust that you’re doing your best in a difficult situation.

For a chat about staging any property, contact Annabel & Co.

APRIL

Help! How can I sell my home faster?

by  |3 minute read

Selling a home is not all about location, location, location. Sure, that does matter, but presentation plays an important role too. So, grab a cuppa and let’s dive into the secrets of selling your home quicker than you can say “make mine a double espresso”.

First things first, decluttering is your new best friend. The truth is, clutter can turn potential buyers off, so why not start the packing process today! Remove personal photos, small décor items, and piles of paperwork etc. A personal favourite of mine is to corral everyday items on an attractive tray, or in the kitchen, on a lazy susan.

Once you’ve cleared the clutter, it’s time to define each room’s purpose. No one wants to play a guessing game of, “is this the dining room or the laundry room?” Make it clear what each space is for; buyers need to envision themselves living there, so remove any ambiguity.

Now, onto the fun stuff – updating your decor!

Here are five simple ways to spruce up your home without breaking the bank:

  1. A fresh lick of paint: nothing transforms a room like a new coat of paint. Stick to neutral tones to appeal to a wide audience.
  2. Let there be light: brighten up your space with floor or table lamps, or strategically placed mirrors to reflect natural light.
  3. Curb appeal: don’t forget the outside of your home! A well-maintained garden or a freshly painted front door can make a world of difference.
  4. Update your kitchen: a simple swap of cabinet hardware or countertops can breath new life into the heart of your home. Etsy is a great place to look for inspiration. If you can, blitz the worktop clutter: try to store small appliances out of sight!
  5. Cosy up your living room: did you know a new sofa comes with a tag of 90kg of carbon? Unless it is time to upgrade or downsize your exiting sofas, simply invest in some plush cushions and a generous throw or rug to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Check out Pinterest for inspiration.

    Finally, here’s the real game-changer for selling property like hot cakes – hiring a professional Home Stager. We know all the tricks to make your property irresistible to buyers. And the best part? According to industry data, a third of staged homes sell three times faster than unstaged ones with and average of 45 days to sell in 2022, compared to 99 days for an unstaged home. Let that sink in for a moment.

    That’s not all – staged properties also tend to attract higher offers. In fact, a third of sellers who staged in 2022 also saw an 11-15% uplift in their sale price.

    So, there you have it, the not-so-secret formula for selling your property at lightning speed. Declutter, define, update, stage, and watch those offers roll in. 

    Collaborate with Annabel & Co today. We help sellers “List Like an A-Lister”!

    MARCH

    Should I decorate before I sell?

    by  | 2 minute read

    In a word, yes.

    A little pre-sale TLC can go a long way in boosting your property’s appeal and value. According to research, a fresh coat of paint could potentially increase your property’s value by 3-8%. So, not only will your home look great when it is marketed online, you can sleep easy knowing you have leveraged the full value of your bricks and mortar.

    Unsurprisingly, neutral tones create a blank canvas for potential buyers to envision their lives in your property. Now is not the time for accent walls, fad colours and expressing your own taste. Warm whites and calming creams work well; these colours create a sense of harmony and make rooms appear larger – a real selling point. 

    Nip down to your local DIY and pick out some colour swatches. With a strip of masking tape, lightly attach your swatches to the wall, moving them around at different times of the day see how they look in various light conditions. 

    Staging a home for sale is something every homeowner can do. Although not always an easy process, a good declutter is my top tip. Clearing out the ‘excess stuff’ will help make your home feel more spacious. No online measurements can substitute for that feeling a buyer gains from uncluttered and well thought out interiors. Less is more when it comes to selling.

    Maximise natural light by pulling back the curtains and cleaning your windows, and if a room still feel a little dark, invest in some elegant floor or table lamps.

    Lastly, don’t forget curb appeal. Tidy up your garden, or if you are short on outdoor space, plant up some colourful flowerpots. Add a fresh coat of paint to your front door – even UPVC can be repainted. Black, deep red and classic green paint colours are widely popular amongst buyers.

    In a nutshell, decorating your home before selling is a smart move that can pay dividends. To find out more about staging your property for sale, read this handy guide, or get in touch with us at Annabel & Co Property Staging.

    Collaborate with Annabel & Co today. We help property sellers “List Like an A-Lister”!

    FEBRUARY

    Supporting compelling makers in 2024

    by  | 1 minute read

    As a home owner, property developer or home stager, we can support small business with big goals. It was wonderful to meet Oksana Tverdokhlibova on the Ukrainian Product Design stand at London’s Decorex 2023. As we a reach the devastating milestone of two years of war in Ukraine, I encourage you to look beyond the ubiquitous online or high street stores and invest in items with both incredible creativity and a powerful story.

    https://ukrainianproduct.design/

    At Annabel & Co we want to make a positive impact on the lives of both our customers and our suppliers. From small changes, like stocking our tea bar with fairly traded items, to buying artisan upcycled furniture, we are working steadily towards B-Corp status, where our business balances purpose and profit.

    JANUARY

    Why should I invest in staging in 2024?

    by  | 2 minute read

    In the fast-paced world of property flipping, a great first impression can seal the deal. The importance of quality staging can’t be overstated: if you aren’t staging your flips yet, you can be sure one of your competitors is.

    Staging focuses on high-impact areas, helping to drive up the perceived value of your property and can be the deciding factor for potential buyers torn between multiple options.

    We all know that the faster your property sells the quicker the profits roll in.

    Did you know staged properties spend on average 70% less time of the market?

    What impact could that make on your business?

    The cost and logistics of staging a property yourself will probably feel daunting. The process of purchasing, storing, and eventually reselling staging props can take your focus away from more strategic business objectives. That’s where the savvy flipper turns to a game-changing solution: engaging a dedicated property staging company. A professional staging company like Annabel & Co will work with you to give you a competitive edge in a crowded market.

    At Annabel & Co we offer a hassle-free solution for busy property professionals. We select, move and store all the furniture and accessories your property requires, allowing you to quickly and efficiently market your property, reduce your holding costs and speed up turnaround times.

    A staged property not only looks better in person but also photographs exceptionally well! With high quality marketing material being crucial in today’s digital age, our professionally edited photos make for eye-catching listings and social media posts.

    Let’s create a buzz around your property!

    The question to ask yourself is this: if nine out of ten buyers struggle to envision the full potential of an empty home, can you afford NOT to stage?

    Let Annabel & Co transform your project into a welcoming and aspirational home. Great staging creates a higher perceived value and, ultimately, a willingness to pay a premium for a property that feels like a dream home!

    Collaborate with Annabel & Co today. We help property professionals “List Like an A-Lister”!