UK estate agency has been slow to accept change. The last couple of years riding the roller coaster of the residential housing market has prompted more significant changes, and in particular a move towards more self-employed agency models, than every before. BUT, what seems to be stuck is the race to the bottom on fees. High street agents in many cases are still charging less than 1% and it is now possible to list a home for free with models such as Strike.
Savvy agents have used home staging as one of the tools in their armoury, along with professional photography and videos, to add value to their proposition and that has boosted awareness in the home sellers’ market, that there are alternatives to the ‘get out of bed, take a few photos, stick it on Rightmove and keep your fingers crossed’ model.
We are now experiencing a new turnaround. In the last month we have had an increasing number of vendors being referred to us by their estate agent with the agent saying ‘this vendor has come to us BECAUSE we advertise that we offer home staging’. In other words, staging is no longer an add-on service that the agent can introduce if they are feeling brave enough to tell a vendor that their house needs some help to look its best for photos and viewings. Vendors, in an increasing number of instances know that like any other commodity, a home needs to be marketed looking it’s very best. The best features should be emphasised, the worst either fixed or played down and above all everywhere needs to be immaculately clean and tidy. A home is a lifestyle product in the same way as a luxury car (and much more expensive in most cases). Home stagers acknowledge that and apply the same principles to marketing a home as to any other super expensive lifestyle product.
Home sellers are realising that an estate agent who is advertising their close relationship with a home staging business on their website and social media is actually serious about getting them the best sale they possibly can, not just a sale at any price. And home sellers are seeking out these agents because they care.
If you are an agent and not yet advertising an accredited home staging service then please get in touch. Even if we are not the right fit for you ourselves we have a very extensive network and we will be able to make connections.
To book an initial staging consultation, please get in touch;
Office 01332 987740
Email [email protected]
