When deciding to sell a property, it is not always easy to
realize that its decor may not appeal to potential
buyers. The property may also need a refresh, or even
more significant work to be brought up to date. But is it more
advantageous to opt for home staging or to invest in a more
extensive renovation before the sale?
Coraline Jacquemotte, real estate sales advisor at Hermanns Real Estate, gives us some valuable advice.
Home Staging
Home staging involves making small repairs and furnishing the
property so that potential buyers can best envision themselves living there. There are also
specialized companies, working in collaboration with real
estate agencies, that handle renting furniture and installing it
in the property.
This type of intervention obviously represents a certain cost and is usually done in vacant properties or new constructions that have not yet been inhabited. “We also give home staging advice to owners regarding the decor to adopt during the sales period. This involves, for example, removing personal photos, vacation souvenirs, etc. However, if the owners live in the property during this period, it is not always feasible.”
Virtual Home Staging
“At Hermanns Real
Estate, we do not practice physical home staging. We prefer
virtual home staging, as this solution allows us to modify the photos
of the property to make it more accessible to everyone. Thanks to this technique, we
can either clean up the room by removing clutter, or furnish
the space differently.” , explains Coraline Jacquemotte.
It is therefore possible, for example, to modernize the decor of a property to make it more up-to-date or more neutral.
How Does it Work?
To rework the property photos, real estate agents at
Hermanns Real Estate agency use a specific program that allows them
to choose elements to remove or replace. They can then
select furniture that could enhance the space and thus appeal
to a maximum number of people.
“Virtual home staging is a service we offer to all owner-sellers who collaborate with our agency for the sale of their property. If they agree, we make the modifications directly to the property photos and then post the listing. If they wish to wait a few weeks and see how the sale progresses without this service, we naturally wait. It sometimes happens that prospective buyers cannot envision themselves in the property due to the decor or furnishings; virtual home staging then allows us to adapt these to the taste of the majority. Usually, owners are quite keen on this type of service, as it allows them to sell their property more quickly and/or at a better price.” , specifies the real estate agent.
Improving Outdoor Spaces
If the exterior is not maintained, it can be a hindrance to the sale. It is therefore also possible to perform virtual home staging on the garden. “For example, we can modify the sky to have a beautiful blue sky or remove stagnant water from the terrace, if the photos were taken on a day with bad weather. We can also add a green, freshly mown lawn, or even make some exterior arrangements”, adds Coraline Jacquemotte.
Renovation: Good or Bad Idea?
It is generally not recommended to undertake renovation work
before listing a property for sale. Indeed, the money invested in the work
cannot be recovered during the sale; it is therefore a
loss-making investment. “If the owner insists on doing
work, we advise them to limit it to a simple refresh of the
paint to make the property more attractive. It will then sell more quickly,
but not necessarily at a better price or even at an amount allowing them to
recover their investment.” , specifies the Brussels real estate agent.
However, be careful not to undertake refreshes intended to conceal a hidden defect in the property! If there are leaks or dampness and the issue has not been resolved, honesty is required, and prospective buyers must be informed. However, if the walls have been dried or the roof repaired, do not hesitate to repaint the problematic area to give it a fresh look.
Hermanns Real Estate’s Advice
To sell your property in no time, turn to virtual
home staging! Do not embark on endless work that
would force you to postpone your real estate projects, but rather entrust the
modifications of your property’s photos to the agent, who is more familiar with current
decor trends.
Do you still want to freshen up your property? Then limit yourself to a coat of interior paint, in a rather neutral tone.
