Staging - is it worth it? Any recommendations?

[Dingdong99]

I've had my old flat on the market since April

It's in London. The photos online are furnished from when I lived there and it looks quite appealing. However, the flat is now empty and unfurnished so perhaps looks a bit flat and uncosy

Wondering if I should pay to get it staged? It's an expensive option

I've been considering doing it myself but it's also a lot to buy a load of furniture etc, and the flat is on the 4th floor so I'd struggle to coordinate buying and then getting a load of stuff up there

So my question is, does staging make a big difference, and does anyone have a London recommendation that doesn't cost the Earth?

Having a double bed in a room helps people see the size - it could just be a second hand mattress in the floor

What is the feed back from viewings?
what is the agents view on why after 5m the property hasn’t sold?
have the agents offered any opinion?

I went to see a house that was staged once (amateur rather than professional I think) but my thoughts were where does all the 'stuff' go? why no TV? It looked unreal. Show homes for New Builds are the same, you learn to look past the staging.

Pricing is alway key for any location.

can your agent tell where the website traffic is comming and going to when people look at your listing? Is it similar properties but lower priced ones etc.

Removing beds et can show sun damage and repair so when the buyer sees an empty room the floor/ fixtures/ paint and any marks are very visable so a buyer is pricing in new flooring etc into the cost of buying

Plus some people find it difficult to see furnishing in an empty room so simple ( used with nice throws ) can help with some peiple doing viewings. But your agent needs to give feedback on the viewings

You can ask for furniture from reuse groups but be honest about why you need it. Alternatively mark out where your furniture was with masking tape so viewers can at least see what they can fit in the spaces.

If it's a really high end property, then maybe.
But for a fairly bog standard property, then no, I don't think it will be the magic solution.
Being empty shows up all the marks etc on walls that are normally hidden and dust in corners so might be worth making sure it is given a good clean and touch up anything really obvious yourself.

It is almost always price ....

I wouldn’t bother, it’s unlikely to affect the price you get enough to offset the price you pay for the staging.

What I would do is make sure the place looks clean & tidy. Maybe paint it or pay a painter with the money you would have spent on staging, so it looks clean and fresh.

I don't think it’s worth it, for some people an empty flat will be a draw as they will be able to move in faster. Perhaps get hold of a couple of beds to contextualise the room sizes? Do you have feedback from viewings? Unfortunately it’s more likely to just be the price is too high.

Can you put up a link to the property? You might get some simple fix ideas

Interested to know, and others will be too. Roughly how much extra did you get for the house compared to the price when it was advertised the year before as non staged ?
Good luck with your venture