There’s no denying property styling is big business in the capital cities where sale prices have defied logic in recent times, but is it a necessary step in regional areas?
The short answer is yes, if you want potential buyers to connect with your property on an emotional level and demonstrate your home’s true potential.
Sisters Ashley Hawthorne and Jessica Hodge from Sess & Sass Design Co in Port Macquarie are passionate about presenting properties in the best possible light and are on a mission to change vendors’ perceptions their service is another fee in the sales process.
“It’s an investment,” said Hodge. “In the long run they’re going to potentially make an extra $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 plus some.”
“It’s not just a day’s installation,” added Hawthorne. “There’s a lot that goes into it; people think you’re just coming in with furniture, we want to achieve the best result so we’re going to get the furniture that’s going to work with their home, we may put a mood board together to show the client what furniture is going into their home so they feel comfortable.”
The local duo has been steadily building their furniture supplies and styling props following the launch of their design company this year.
“Initially we started talking with the builders of new homes, but our business began to take a whole new direction when we started getting approached by real estate agents to do property styling for their clients,” added Hodge.
There is a wealth of styling information readily available, thanks to the online world and countless reality renovating programs, however, DIY styling is not for everyone and this is where outsourcing has its place.
“I think people can get really stuck and think ‘I don’t know where to start, this is very overwhelming for me, I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but I want it done tomorrow’, so you just do your best to make their life that bit easier, make that transition for them, because it can be such a stressful moment for them selling their home,” added Hodge.
“With property styling you need to capture that emotion from the potential buyer because that’s what makes them go ‘I really want to live here and I can see myself living here. I don’t want this place to go and I want to make this home mine’, that’s our aim.”
Engaging a property stylist. What’s involved?
Next time: Sess & Sass Design Co’s top tips for styling your property on a budget.
