Critique my photos – selling house

[Delara]

Hi all,

I'm planning on selling soon, and am looking for some feedback on staging.

I live in an area where the houses that sell for most are a bit eclectic and 'have character' and colour. The ones that sell for the least are plain (which goes against everything I'd heard about making your house a blank slate!) so I'm thinking of leaning into this and maybe painting the chimney breast wall green and painting the kitchen, which is probably the most bland bit.

I'm also wondering if the living room is too busy and if I should just have one chair and fewer accessories.

The wardrobe in the second bedroom blocks light from the window so would it be worth swapping it out for a desk?

Please do point out anything else – if something looks cluttered etc.

Also should I remove all cat equipment? Planning to remove the litter boxes but wondering if it would be ok to leave up the cat tree in the living room if it blends into the room enough.

Appreciate any thoughts :)

It looks a lovely, cosy home OP! I’d love to know the pink paint you’ve used in the bedroom if you can remember?

Definitely remove litter boxes. The cat tree would be fine either way I think.

I know what you mean about the wardrobe blocking light but I do actually think it’s useful to be able to see that the room can accommodate storage, so I’d leave it as is. I’m sure someone will be along to disagree with me on that though.

Thank you – it's Little Greene Masquerade Mid :)

And yes I was worried about replacing all the storage in the room, it already doesn't have much space as it is and a tall wardrobe was the best use of the space I could find. It's tricky trying to stage to encourage people to envision what's possible or how it might fit in with their life.

What a lovely little home. It looks so welcoming. I love the colour of your landing wall.
I agree that the kitchen could do with a bit of colour and I agree with PP to leave the wardrobe. I find it really off-putting if I can't see how normal (and necessary) furniture would work in a room.
None of it looks cluttered, it looks really neat. I'm not a fan of cats at all so having a reminder that a cat lives there would give me a tinge of 'eugh' and make me thing I'd want to decorate immediately. If the cat tower wasn't there and I didn't notice your cat, I'd probably think I could move straight in without decorating for a while.

You have a lovely house! I’d swap the light blocking wardrobe for a chest of drawers- it’s still all important storage but will let more light in. YY to removing the litter boxes but the cat tree will be fine. Most of the photos do look a little gloomy but if these are your DIY ones and not the pro photographer then that’s fine and I’m sure they’ll do a better job of making it look bright. You could definitely stage the loft room a bit better as I’m not sure from your picture with that beanbag if you could actually stand up in it… might be nice to see it as a proper homeworking space since a lot of people want that these days. I wouldn’t paint, the current palate is great- neutral but with plenty of personality! Good luck!

The rooms look lovely and cosy however the photos are very dark. Get lights and lamps on in all rooms (that's what the EA always do anyway though!). Also move the wardrobe in the second bedroom to let more light in. As another poster says, maybe replace with some drawers?

As cute as your cat is, don't have any photos with him / her on it! Definitely remove the cat tree (although I can't even see the litter trays?!)

A lot of people are put off by houses which have had pets in them. We removed all evidence of our dogs and I sent them out on long walks with DH when we had viewings 😆

Remove the cat tree, any photo with a cat in it, and is that a pet bed in one of the bedrooms?

I would be very put off by an obviously cat-prioritising house, cat fleas bite humans when long dormant eggs hatch and the cat has moved away.

Plus cat-allergic buyers will be factoring in a deep clean of carpets.

Don’t paint the wall, just get some lovely coloured cushions. And coloured accessories or artwork in the kitchen and house. It does look a bit dark and beige. Put all the lights on when the EA takes pics.

It looks a nice house in good nick so I wouldn’t start doing hard to reverse decor changes.

I'd remove all evidence of the cats for the photos, but worry less about viewings.

You've got colour in several rooms, so I think I'd put a splash of colour in the rooms that are neutral to make it more cohesive.

Lovely house!

You have a lovely home. The photos all look quite dark to me though. I would also remove all signs that you have a cat.

I wouldn't do anything to the lounge/diner, it's got a nice mid-century vibe going on and looks fresh and airy. The bedrooms are fine.

I'd put all effort into the kitchen which looks cheap and bland.

Photos are dark. I would get rid of the plants. Remove the cat tree. Make all the bedding plain.

Thank you! Yes I plan to put my cats in a cattery for the day, air out the house well, remove most of not all signs of cats being there. Thanks for your input!

Thank you, drawers are a great idea! And yes these are the DIY ones just to get some initial feedback. The loft room I can only stand up in the middle, which is annoying, but I do actually use it as a sewing room and the previous owners used it as a playroom (there's a gate around the stairs!) I don't have kids at the moment so I think I would struggle to stage it as a playroom even though that's the most sensible use for it. Definitely struggling with how to stage.

I'd do colour by accessories you can take with you.

Thank you, yes these are my own photos and I definitely wouldn't have a cat in the official ones! Lights and lamps are a great idea I hadn't thought of, I would be a bit worried it would give everything a yellow tinge but I assume probably photographers might touch them up after!

everyones Saying remove the cat tree, but what about the ACTUAL cat on the table 😂

Thank you, great idea putting the lights on.
Definitely plan to remove as many signs of cat life as I can and probably put them in a cattery for the day as houses in my area tend to get back to back Saturday viewings. Cat trees could probably be dismantled and put in my car I suppose!

😂 don't worry these are just my own photos, I won't let them be in the estate agent photos!!

Thank you, yes it's hard to know how much I can add back in for viewings! I guess it's ok for things to look a bit more lived in for viewings?

Yes these are just my own photos, some posters have suggested putting on lights for the EA photos which I hadn't thought of!

I think putting a proper chair at the sewing table would help make sense of the height in the loft room. Otherwise your home looks lovely and ready to move into.

Draw the shower curtain back and remove cat items. Good luck with the sale.

Good idea making the bedding plain so it looks less busy. Are there particular areas where the plants look too cluttered? I can definitely reduce if not remove. Thank you :)

Thanks, this is a good idea. Someone mentioned artwork – I've not got much in the living room

I would put a darker tones throw on the pink bedroom bed and a couple of coloured bowls or vase etc on the kitchen worktop for a pop of colour. Nothing else needed.

Thank you! What would you suggest doing to the kitchen? It's where I feel least inspired.