Home staging is preparing your property for sale, to appeal to potential buyers. It is one of the most successful ways to sell your home- spending half the time on the market, compared to a non-staged home- but also to get over the asking price for it.

I stage homes for sale and when I do, after speaking to the estate agent or homeowners, I know the target audience. From there I will stage the property to appeal to that market- be it young professionals, families, holiday makers etc.

All stagers prepare the properties with photographers in mind as 90% of buyers search online first. Without good photos, people just scroll on. Potential buyers spend two seconds on a property ad without photos; they spend 20 seconds looking at an ad with great photos.

There are different types of home staging. These include:

Occupied home staging:

This is where you have people living in a property. They have furniture, or maybe they need to rent some additional pieces to make the property more modernised. Maybe your property needs a deep clean? Does it need to be repainted, new carpets fitted, any DIY jobs done etc?

Vacant home staging

Vacant properties are difficult to sell. People need to be shown the potential of a property before they buy. Staging it gives potential buyers the idea of space in a house. An empty house also highlights any flaws in a property. It also appears smaller. People don’t like houses that are cold and uninviting.

Virtual home staging:

This means viewing the property through 3D imagery, or through a video made by an estate agent. This was very popular during the pandemic.

Employing a professional stager is a cost, but you will make your money back, so in my view it''s a good investment. If you would like to try staging your own home, however, here are some top tips.

1 Kerb appeal: This is key. People will not stop to take a look when driving or even look online if a house does not look appealing from the outside. Cut back the hedges, paint the front door, consider new gravel, place two new potted plants outside the front door, a new welcome mat, and even a new door knob. First impressions count.

2 Paint the walls a neutral colour: This makes a house look cleaner and fresher. You can add any colour accessories to a neutral palette- cushions, throws, curtains etc.

3 Stage your kitchen: Let potential buyers see the potential dining space available. We all love this area now for entertaining, especially after COVID-19. Dress the table, add some greenery, flowers and candles etc. If your kitchen cabinets are looking old, maybe invest in repainting them.

4 Bathroom area: Ensure the bathroom itself, the shower area and tiles are clean. Add some fresh white towels, and a candle.

5 Entrance/hallway: If the hallway is dark, hang a mirror to reflect the light around the hall. Add a vase of fresh flowers, light a candle, ensure the carpet/rug is clean and does not smell of pets etc.

6 Bedroom: Purchase some white duvet covers, as these are fresh and clean looking. You can add a throw and cushions to brighten up the room and pull back the curtains. If you have a spare room, show it off as another bedroom/office if possible. Stage the bedrooms dependent on the potential client you are trying to impress; eg a family needs beds, a young professional might need a full office?

7 Depersonalise your property: For example, take down personal photos of you, your family and pets, storing them in a safe place while your house is on the market. By doing this, it enables potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. The only pictures I would consider leaving up are non -personal ones like landscape views, interesting architectural buildings etc. Also store away knick knacks i.e. pottery collections/religious artwork, as this will ensure the best features of the house stand out.

I hope this has given you an insight into the importance of staging your property when up for sale.

Maura Mackey is an interior designer and home staging specialist based in, Co Cork.