Guide to Home Staging in Style
Originally posted on & updated on 13th November, 2024
Are you planning to sell your property in France in today’s uncertain and competitive market? Despite the continued strong intereest in France, it can be challenging to stand out among similar listings. However, there is a solution that is gaining popularity in America - introducing our guide to home staging.
Aiming to improve the value of a future sale, a Home Staging service assesses the property’s potential and, if necessary, recommends minor works to give the place an up-to-date and stylish appearance with the prospect of significantly increasing the selling price. This practice can work wonders and help make your property look more appealing to potential buyers. Or you can turn on your creative and business side and decide do all the work all yourself for extra profit.
Beyond Beautiful Photos
Home staging, also known as property styling, is an art that involves creating an immersive experience for potential buyers where they can imagine themselves living in the space. It’s about breathing new life into your property by transforming it into a haven that exudes comfort, elegance, and style. Imagine an expertly furnished interior where every furniture, accessory, and decor element is carefully selected to create a cohesive and inviting ambience.
Soft lighting accents the unique architectural features of the space, highlighting its best qualities and creating a sense of warmth and peacefulness. By creating such an environment, you can maximise the appeal of your property and ensure that it stands out in the eyes of potential buyers.
Benefits Worth Working For
Staging your property is a crucial aspect of selling your home. By staging your home, you can create an inviting atmosphere that can catch the attention of potential buyers and increase their interest in purchasing your property. Studies have shown that staged homes can sell quicker than “non-staged ones”, reducing the time your property spends on the market and potentially saving you time and anxiety.
In addition to selling faster, staged homes can fetch offers up to 20% higher than their ‘unstaged’ counterparts, maximising your financial return. This can be achieved by creating an attractive and appealing environment that helps potential buyers imagine living in your home.
Staging your home can also help broaden its appeal to a wider audience, not just yours. By making your property look more attractive and presentable, you can attract more potential buyers who might not have considered your property. This can also result in multiple offers, allowing you to choose the best offer that suits your needs.
Adapt to a Global Audience
While the core benefits remain universal, here’s how home staging adapts to the French market:
Understand Buyer Preferences
French buyers seek attributes “cachet”, “caractere” and “art de vivre.” Homeowners should tailor their presentation accordingly, displaying stonework, original tiles, colourful shutters, and woodwork under the best light and angle.
Respect Architectural Heritage
Staging should enhance your property’s unique character without compromising its historic charm and original features. If you haven’t got around to renovating the barn or finishing the attic, just clear up to show the size and potential to prospective buyers.
High-Quality Finishing
The details reflect French sophistication from curated antiques to locally sourced fabrics, “sur-mesure” open plan US-style kitchens, opulent living areas with fireplaces and sophisticated pool houses with terraced areas for al-fresco dinners and BBQ parties.
Investing in Success
Home staging might seem like an extra expense, but consider it an investment, especially if you want to see quality images online. Many immobiliers and estate agents are not very talented in showcasing your home in its best light, so supplying your photos could be helpful. The potential return through a faster sale, higher offers, and reduced stress makes it a sound financial decision.
First Impressions Matter
As the saying goes, the first impression counts, and the very first glimpse any future buyer will have of a property is the ease of access, the immediate outdoor spaces, and the garden. Are you neglecting your garden and outdoor spaces? There are many small tasks that you can do to clean and improve the surroundings of your property.
Begin by cleaning the terraces and paths, trimming any overgrown plants, repairing any damaged fences, and consider repainting the gate. Consider visiting your local garden centre and purchasing a few shrubs and plants, such as a vine. They can liven up your patio instead of leaving it bare and can be done without spending too much money.
Pooling Power
In southern France, properties equipped with a swimming pool sell for 5 to 20% more than those without one. They are essential when selling a house or villa on the Côte d’Azur, Provence, and Occitanie. The presence of a pool has a significant impact on the selling price of a home. The quality of the safety and maintenance equipment and the option of covering and heating the pool sometimes justify a higher price. The size of the terrace and the summer kitchen also contribute to the price difference.
Influenced by America
Upcycling is an essential part of home staging, where you revamp your existing furniture and give it a new purpose and placement in your home. This trend, also imported from America, allows you to easily transform old furniture by painting the doors, applying specialist wood wax to the original flooring, and adding new handles to the old chest of drawers. By doing so, you can give your living areas a fresh look without investing in new furniture.
For Best Results and Price
Real estate experts believe home staging should not cost more than 5% of the home’s price. The primary home enhancement expenses include paintings, floor coverings, cushions, lighting, and small furniture. As for labour costs, it’s up to you to decide how much effort you want to put in. Our advice is to be realistic about how much work you can take on before your fixed deadline, ensure you have suitable insurance coverage if things go wrong, and, crucially, stay within budget. The more effort you invest, the better results you will yield.
Get your French Home Ready
Staging your property and improving its surroundings can offer several benefits, including selling your home faster, increasing your financial return, broadening its appeal to a wider audience, and reducing stress levels. And remember, a well-staged home isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about telling a compelling story that resonates with buyers. For example, start by placing locally grown lavender, garden flowers or sunflowers on the coffee table.
Additional Home Staging Tips
- De-personalise your space to allow buyers to visualise their furniture
- Address minor repairs and prioritise cleanliness. Make coffee before visits.
- Leverage natural light and create inviting outdoor spaces
Home staging can be a powerful tool to transform your property and attract potential buyers, enabling you to prepare for your next move or project. Some expats living in France may relocate to a different area, particularly retirees seeking a better climate and closer amenities. If you require assistance finding your next dream home, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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