Selling your home is certainly not an easy feat, and according to an expert, small details may be scaring off buyers.
Liv Conlon, CEO of ThePropertyStagers, has staged thousands of homes over the course of her decades-long career.
It’s her job to make a house look its best to appeal to potential buyers before a sale by adding or rearranging furniture and decor.
She explained exclusively to the Daily Mail that people often overlook this process – or make grave mistakes during it that unknowingly blow their sales.
‘Selling a house isn’t like selling a sofa on Facebook Marketplace – you can’t just throw a few cushions on a tired sofa, snap a couple of pictures on your iPhone, and hope for the best,’ she stressed.
‘[You have to] price your property for the market – but stage it to match that price. Get this wrong, and the market will punish you.
‘Get it right, and you’re not just selling a house – you’re commanding the full value it deserves.’
Thankfully, she has revealed the commonly overlooked errors that people make when it comes to staging their homes so that you can avoid them to ensure a smooth and easy sale.
Liv Conlon, CEO of ThePropertyStagers, has staged thousands of homes over the course of her decades-long career
Not paying attention to the layout of the furniture
First things first, Conlon stressed the importance of paying attention to the layout of your furniture – something she said people often don’t prioritize.
She explained that choosing the right placement of the furniture throughout the home is usually more important than choosing the furniture pieces or decor.
The expert added that it’s vital that you make your space feel as big and airy as possible, since many buyers are turned off by ‘cramped’ spaces or ‘clutter.’
‘A cramped lounge or a dining table jammed against a radiator makes a space feel smaller than it actually is,’ she said.
‘That box room that’s a dumping ground? They can’t picture that it could be a beautiful bedroom.
‘I’ve seen homes where buyers have walked in and immediately said, “It feels like there’s no space to live here,” despite the property being perfectly sized. It leaves a lasting impression – and the wrong one.’
Conlon suggested removing any unnecessary furniture, rearranging seating to maximize flow, and making sure buyers can see potential for family living.
‘If they can’t see themselves living in the space, they’ll simply walk away,’ she added.
First things first, Conlon stressed the importance of paying attention to the layout of your furniture – something she said people often don’t prioritize (stock image)
Not giving the kitchen enough attention
According to Conlon, another massive mistake that people make when it comes to staging their home is not giving the kitchen enough attention.
‘The kitchen isn’t just a functional space – it’s an emotional one,’ she explained.
‘Thanks to Pintrest, RightMove and Instagram, buyers now want the dream kitchen (and on a budget). They want to cook, entertain and live.’
She explained that it’s often viewed as the ‘main room’ in a home and should never appear as ‘dirty, dated or cluttered’ in the photos on your listing.
‘[You don’t want buyers to have to imagine] expensive renovations because if they do make you an offer, they’ll factor that cost into the amount,’ she dished.
‘Clear every countertop, hide small appliances and if your cabinets are dated, invest in simple updates like new handles,’ she suggested.
‘You don’t need a $20,000 remodel – just create the illusion of care and space.’
According to Conlon, another massive mistake that people make when it comes to staging their home is not giving the kitchen enough attention (stock image)
Uploading photos that don’t have the best angles
No matter how nice the home itself looks, if the photos are bad, you’re not going to get a buyer.
Conlon explained that ‘amateur’ looking snaps with ‘crooked angles’ in the listing will turn people off.
‘Go in at the wrong angle, or fail to upload all the photos needed, and it could mean your home is snubbed,’ she said.
‘Not many people go to see a property “just in case” it’s better than the photos. Buyers need to fall in love online first – get this wrong, and you’re losing serious money.’
She added that it’s important to show ‘every main room’ including the kitchen living room and bedroom.
‘[Buyers also] want to know what the gardens look like, and what the exterior of the property looks like,’ she continued.
No matter how nice the home itself looks, if the photos are bad, you’re not going to get a buyer, Conlon stressed
Adding too many personal touches
While Conlon noted that all homes are personal, she explained that buyers want to ‘imagine themselves living there,’ so it’s best not to include too many personal touches when you’re staging.
‘[They don’t want to come] face-to-face with your bright red kitchen, or your living room that has every surface covered in family photos or your latest collectibles,’ she explained.
‘Buyers aren’t buying (your) memories – they’re buying potential. Family photos, quirky collections or neon furniture stop buyers imagining themselves in the space.’
She added that even the smallest items matter, and warned against bold patterns or colors and ‘over-the-top art’ that could ‘dominate a room.’
While it may be your personal taste, it’s best to stay neutral, as the stager stated: ‘Bold personal tastes, no matter how much you love them, are a seller’s enemy.’
Conlon warned against bold patterns or colors and ‘over-the-top art’ that could ‘dominate a room’ (stock image)
Neglecting maintenance issues
It’s easy when you decide that you’re getting rid of a home to stop investing in little fixes. But Conlon warned against neglecting maintenance issues.
‘It’s tempting to think, “Buyers will fix this themselves,” but in reality, every fault gets factored into their offer,’ she stressed.
‘Cracked tiles, leaking taps, scuffed doors and peeling paint aren’t trivial things. And they will only appeal to a certain buyer – usually someone looking for a bargain.
‘These things make your home look as though you’ve neglected it, leading the buyer to think about what else they might have to fix.’
Often overlooked things that could hinder your asking price, according to Conlon, are fencing, gates or garden walls ‘in disrepair,’ worn carpets, broken doors or drafty windows.
‘In today’s market, buyers are savvier and more demanding than ever. If you list your home at a high price, don’t be surprised when they expect it to look and feel every bit of that value,’ she added.
Things that could hinder your asking price, according to Conlon, are fencing, gates or garden walls ‘in disrepair,’ worn carpets, broken doors or drafty windows (stock image)
‘Overpriced properties with dated kitchens, cluttered rooms or obvious maintenance issues get nitpicked relentlessly, and buyers won’t hesitate to slash their offers – or walk away.
‘Buyers are thinking long-term: “How much will I need to spend to get this home up to scratch?” If the answer is anything other than “nothing,” they negotiate hard.
‘Of course, if you’re happy to lower the price because you’re well aware the buyer will need to splash some cash to get the home up to a standard, then list it as such – needing some TLC.’
Overlooking smells
Conlon explained that buyers notice ‘everything,’ so if they come look at your home for the first time and smell something off, they might be turned off.
‘If your property is damp, [if you have] pets, you smoke or you cook strong flavors, your house will probably smell,’ she said.
Conlon explained that buyers notice ‘everything,’ so if they come look at your home for the first time and smell something off, they might be turned off
‘Overpowering smells, or smells associated with anything unhygienic – bins, fur, drains and so on – will leave buyers turning their noses up.
‘They don’t want to be thinking about what is causing the smell, and whether that will go on to cause them more problems in the long run.
‘Buyers interpret smells as a lack of maintenance or hidden issues, and they factor that into their offer – or switch off completely.’
She suggested giving the home a deep clean or good airing before viewings start.
While she noted that ‘candles and diffusers’ are fine to use, she said you don’t want to pick something too strong since ‘subtlety is key.’