I was scrolling in a Facebook group recently and found a post asking ‘Do I need a property stylist to sell my home?’ And with over 100 comments, I was curious to see what everyone had to say.
Here’s some of the varied viewpoints:
Comments in favour of getting a property stylist to sell your home:
“I would never sell a property without getting it professionally styled. We have sold 3 properties this way in the last 15 years. The agent thought we were crazy back in 2010 when we insisted on getting a stylist in but then he couldn’t believe the difference it made and started recommending it to all his clients!”
“I used a stylist and declutterer two years ago and felt it was worth every penny. It was the family home of 50 years.”
“I think it depends on the house, the market and your style. I styled my own relatively new built house for sale and got lots of feedback that it looked amazing and a quick sale. It was very easy to do in a new house though. If the market in your area is slow and styling is not your thing it probably would be worth it.”
Comments against getting a property stylist to sell your home:
“Personal opinion the way the real estate market is going I don’t think you need to spend the $’s”
“I think it is entirely personal preference. For me that would take away all the joy of doing it myself.”
“It’s not worth it if it’s already in a state to take beautiful photos. I just sold my parents house. No way anyone was going to suggest replacing their pristine furniture with anything from a stylist’s shed!”
Why you should invest in a property stylist
Property styling has become the norm. So to go without it, you may be putting your home at a disadvantage against the other properties on the market. You can really tell if the home has not been styled, and buyers have an expectation of seeing a nicely styled home when they visit open houses.
Let me answer some commonly asked questions about working with a property stylist to sell your home, and share my tips on how to work with your property stylist to get the best outcome.
What does a property stylist do?
A property stylist helps you, the homeowner, prepare the home for sale and presents it in the best possible light to appeal to buyers. A good property stylist will:
- work with you to recommend how each room will be styled
- know how to style the home with an ideal buyer in mind
- arrange for the delivery of items like furniture, cushions, bedding, linen and decorative items (vases, artwork, rugs, books, knickknacks)
- provide guidance on decluttering your home for sale
- show how the space can function
- allow buyers to move through the home and easily see all the features
- take out the personality of the home and turn it into a neutral space the buyer can imagine living in
- create consistency in the styling, to create an overall positive impression
Why can’t I style my home instead?
Often as the vendor, you’re too biased in favour of your own style. Whereas stylists decorate homes everyday , so they are really attuned to what attracts buyers. If you need to buy furniture, you often do it as cheaply as possible and end up with a hodgepodge collection from Facebook marketplace, rather than a seamless collection where each piece complements the rest. You’ll likely be out of pocket for decorative items like throw rugs, cushions and artwork. Styling yourself can take quite a lot of time and may delay the start of your campaign while you try to get it all done. It’s often better to leave it to the professionals.
How do stylists provide furniture and house décor?
Stylists typically have their own collection of furniture, decor and decorations. Usually, they’ll take a day in your property to bring in all the future and set it all up to look fabulous. Everything from the handtowls, vases, artwork, lamps, and even the bathroom soap or the cookbook on the counter is typically provided by the stylist and everything is seamless. Your home will then be ready for the photographer to take photos and the marketing campaign to begin. Usually the home will be styled for six weeks, covering one week before the campaign, and allowing one week after. If the home doesn’t sell at auction, negotiations can continue in the week after, with the home still beautifully styled.
What does a property stylist cost?
It depends on the level of styling, such as partial styling or full styling, and the size of the property. But most stylists will start with $3000 for a smaller property or partial style, through to $8000+ for complete styling of a larger home.
What is the difference between a partial style and full style?
A partial style combines some of your own existing furniture and décor alongside new pieces provided by the stylist. A partial style may be a good idea if there’s just a few missing or outdated items. For example, bunk beds in the kids room can make it dark or overcrowded, or an overlarge couch makes accessibility difficult. The stylist will keep most of your furniture and décor while adding their own items to create an ideal combination.
Do real estate agents recommend property stylists?
Yes your real estate agent can recommend a property stylist however the decision to use them should be up to you. Some stylists pay agents commissions for the recommendation, so if your agent is being particularly pushy about using a particular stylist this may be the reason why. As vendor advocates we also recommend stylists but we don’t accept any kickers or commissions. To find a property stylist, try a Google search, ask for recommendations and look for their portfolios on their website or their Instagram to see who will be a good fit for you.
Stylists should turn your house into a home
When buyers inspect your home and see personal photos and family mementos, they can’t imagine themselves moving into the property, they feel like a guest. So by removing any photos and other personal items, you instantly broaden the home’s appeal. Stylists will help you decide what to take away in order to appeal to the right buyer. For example, if you want to appeal to family buyers, you may wish to ensure all bedrooms are styled as such (not as a study, sewing room or home gym).
Stylists should demonstrate the capacity of the space
If there’s too much furniture in the way, buyers can’t move through the home easily to inspect – especially if a large crowd shows up. And if larger furniture is obstructing views or access, it can prevent buyers seeing the potential of the home, so stylists will solve that problem. For example, you may have a lovely courtyard but the outdoor furniture is tired and dated, or the bedroom furniture is too small and you can showcase that a king size bed can easily fit in the room. Mirrors and glass tables are great tools in the stylists arsenal, that can be used to make a room appear bigger.
Don’t take stylists advice personally
It can be delicate if a stylist suggests you get rid of your favourite antique or a much loved dining table. But buyers don’t know your sentimental attachment to your furniture. Stylists are looking to appeal to buyers, not your personal taste. You may love your beautiful piano, lounge suite or dresser, but if it blocks the light of the room and takes up too much space, it really should be moved during the sales campaign. If the stylist suggests furniture or décor in colours or styles you don’t like, remember it’s not styled to your taste — it’s for buyer appeal. (Glass tables tend to get a lot of pushback.)
Styling period homes can be difficult
Most period homes are full of charming features that are highly appealing to buyers. But they also want to see modern conveniences as well. Older period homes tend to have formal living and dining areas that are not conducive to how modern families live and use spaces. So it can be difficult to determine how to style these areas. Speak to your agent and look at similar homes on the market to see how similar homes are styled.
Don’t style contrary to the style of the home
I’ve seen plenty of poorly styled homes that miss the mark. For example a period home filled with modern furniture or the opposite, a newly built townhouse full of antiques. If you have a mid-century home then use that style as inspiration — ultra modern furniture or antiques will just clash with the home’s features. If the home has features that are quirky, or art deco, or 80s style, the presentation should reflect, not contrast with it.
Styling to appeal to a buyer
Knowing your ideal buyer will dictate your styling options. If you’re targeting families, showcase bedrooms and fit double beds if you can.Tweens and teenagers can be very influential on their parents and if they see a ‘girls room’ or a ‘boy zone’ they may flat refuse to inspect the property further. Making the bedrooms neutral and universally appealing will help minimise this risk.
If you are targeting first home buyers or renovators, it’s good to style the property as a blank canvas so buyers can see the potential. You can do things like leave the furnishings sparse so buyers can see the chance to add stairways or extra rooms. Showcase the outdoor area that may be perfect for an ‘out and up’ renovation down the track.
What if the home is vacant with no furniture – can I leave it empty?
Most buyers struggle with large empty rooms. You’re asking a lot of them to use their imagination to see how the space can be used. Buyers are prone to miscalculating the size of their furniture — rooms actually seem smaller when there’s no furniture. So in most cases, investing in styling an empty home will create more buyer appeal. When there’s no styling, buyers can easily see the flaws in a property that may be less visible otherwise. In some cases, you can get away with styling a few choice rooms and leaving others empty. Orr for a property that is only going to be a knock over or development site leaving it empty can absolutely be the right choice – it really does depend on the individual property.
To summarise: do I need a property stylist to sell my home?
- A stylist will make your home look fantastic and ensure it provides maximum appeal so it is a wise investment in getting your home sold
- It’s the norm, buyers expect to see styled homes now, so if you opt out, you may be at a disadvantage
- Stylists will present the home with the ideal buyer in mind
- Styling your home yourself may seem like a shortcut but the results may vary, best leave it to professionals
- Property styling costs range between $3000 and $8000
- You may save costs with partial style, where the stylist uses some of your belongings and some of their own
- Don’t take stylists feedback personally, it’s not about your personal taste, it’s about buyer appeal
- Keep the styling consistent with the home’s features – art deco, modern or mid-century – avoid clashing styles
- Style bedrooms neutrally and add double beds where you can
- Stylists can recommend how to best present each room – for example formal living and dining, fourth bedrooms or a study
- Don’t feel pressured to choose the stylist recommended by your agent — shop around
