The elderly owner of this North London retirement flat had gone into a care home and it was left to her Power of Attorney, to get the best price for it in order to help fund the care costs.
The owner had been an academic, more interested in her books than her home, and consequently the cluttered, dingy, old fashioned look of the place meant it would be unappealing to buyers and would certainly never achieve the best possible price. Even if the Power of Attorney had cleared it, it would have been difficult for her to sell it because it was dirty, dark and shabby, with stained carpets and unattractive curtains.
She had four valuations, all of which came in between £125,000 and £130,000, which was much less than she had hoped for. A mutual friend suggested she called me in. As she later admitted, “I was sceptical about Home Staging but Mo proved me wrong. She added an amazing £46,000 (35%) to the value of the flat and it sold within two weeks!"
I advised having new carpet and flooring and redecorating throughout then styling with new furniture, curtains, blinds and accessories to give it the best chance of selling quickly and for the maximum price possible.
I advised having new carpet and flooring and redecorating throughout then styling with new furniture, curtains, blinds and accessories to give it the best chance of selling quickly and for the maximum price possible.
I advised having new carpet and flooring and redecorating throughout then styling with new furniture, curtains, blinds and accessories to give it the best chance of selling quickly and for the maximum price possible.
But first we had to clear the clutter and all those books! The books alone filled over 60 boxes which, along with four of the seven large bookcases, the dark, oppressive furniture, unwanted clothes and possessions, went to charity.
Then my decorator and handyman was able to start. I found a very reasonable independent carpet fitter who supplied and fitted a contemporary light grey carpet throughout, plus an attractive grey vinyl to the bathroom and kitchen. The whole flat was thoroughly cleaned and I set about sourcing stylish but inexpensive furniture, soft furnishings and accessories to create a warm, welcoming ambience that would appeal to buyers.
The results speak for themselves. The flat was re valued and marketed at £175,000 and, two weeks later, after just 5 viewings, an offer of £176,000 was achieved.
Even the Estate Agent was amazed. "I've known flats in this block to take months to sell, and for very much less. With Mo Gooch's Home Staging techniques, this flat fetched 46k more than it was valued at, and it sold within just two weeks of marketing", said Martin McKelvey of Anthony Webb Estate Agents in Palmers Green.
I really enjoyed staging and styling this property and the outcome was extremely satisfying for all concerned.
Just a reminder of the impact that Home Staging can have:
