BIO
Alex Brooks
Before setting up Ant and Feather Properties, I worked as an estate agent. It was there that I quickly learned the difference furnishing can make when selling a property. Buyers want to imagine the property as a home, and while some love the idea of a blank canvas, most do not. I found that the majority of buyers needed help understanding how the space would work with furniture. I would sometimes find myself lying on the floor of an empty property to show how easily a bed could fit in a room. While this demonstrated the point, it wasn't quite the same as walking into a cozy bedroom with a beautifully made bed and plumped cushions.
Another observation from my estate agent days was that properties that stood out generally sold quicker. I particularly remember homes with color, quirky art, and plants would photograph well and attract a lot of buyers. When I sold a flat of my own, I used a company to furnish it. Although it was well presented and sold quickly, I found it a little bland. I decided that for any future projects, I would handle the furnishing myself. As you can see from the photographs, I like to use splashes of color, pictures, lamps, plants (artificial, so no need to water!), and props such as candles and vases. I am proud to say that every furnished property I have sold or rented has exceeded expectations.
According to a recent article, in the evening standard, staging might cost between one and three per cent (although this seems high to us) of the home's asking price, and, on average, boosts the offer value by between four and six per cent. ​As you can see it is a worthwhile process.