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 :)

The loft room is a super awkward height – can only really stand up properly in the middle. I do use it as a sewing room as loads of floor space for cutting and ironing but it was designed as a playroom. No kids yet so hard to stage as a playroom even though that would be the best use for it!
I definitely plan to have the listing state it's reduced head height throughout as don't want people to rock up and be very disappointed 😂

Thank you, good thing I recently resiliconed the bath...

Good idea, people say to remove everything from kitchen worktop but i think it looks so plain when I do!

For the loft what about more bean bags/low seating and a TV to show it as a sort of cinema room? Could appeal to a family with teens who want a separate hang out/gaming space and it’s not a huge leap from that to see it as a potential playroom for younger ones.

Oh that's a great idea. It's a small house so most likely will be first time buyers without kids or with very young kids, but I like how a hangout space could encourage people to think about it as a playroom.

It looks a lovely house but for photos / viewing I would:

Add some colour to the kitchen. Is that a long tall cupboard facing or the fridge? If it's an end panel I'd consider painting it. Add a nice big bowl or oranges or lemons to the worktop.

Open shower curtain and remove a couple of the plants in bathroom

I'd consider getting a low bed for the loft room.

Remove the nearest armchair in the living room

Remove all signs of cat

Swop 2nd bed wardrobe for chest of drawers.

Dress the beds - get a cover/throw to cover the sheet & duvet.

The loft looks very empty and in stark contrast with downstairs and the bedroom which look a bit stuffed. The plans also take up a lot of space and I'd worry they are hiding something, especially in the bathroom. I'd move a couple of small items of furniture and a few of the plants up to the loft and try to showcase it as a TV room.

Thank you!
End panel is the fridge!

Great idea about a bowl of bright fruit. I do have too many plants about!

Low bed is a good idea for the loft room although I don't know if I'd want to sell it as habitable when it's not. I'll have a look though if I can find one second hand!

Good idea to dress the beds more, I've got a few throws I could try.

I just have too many plants! Great idea about moving them to the loft, that would free up some space in the rest of the house. TV room is a great idea, although I've only got a small one in the alcove ATM so would have to think about how to make it work. Definitely want it to feel cohesive so I appreciate you pointing out how stark the loft looks at the moment!

What part of the country are you in? It's a lovely house and I know someone looking for just that type of house right now. They'd even want the cat 😺

Manchester, not in a desirable area though 😥 hence why moving! Wish I could pick up the house and plonk it down elsewhere

No cats
Third photo down close the door as it makes the room look like a real squeeze

I think it's a lovely blend of characterful and blank slate. Agree the kitchen is bland but I'd try to add cute accessories that you can take with you where possible. Same for the blank walls - add art or photos you can take to your new home.

If you really wanted to stage the spare room as a playroom, charity shops or car boot sales will have lots you can pick up cheaply and then donate afterwards. Google playroom pics - you'll actually need very little for a cool looking aspirational playroom aesthetic (that would be totally impossible to have with actual kids around with all their commercial plastic tat).

I wouldn't go for plain bedding or remove anything that gives your home character. Though, TBF, I also love the cat on the table 😂

Great spot with the door, wish it opened the other way!

You need a few more pictures on the walls.

Hahahaha I don't know how people manage to stage their houses with kids!! It's very impressive. I can hardly keep things tidy myself let alone with kids running around.

Good idea about second hand playroom bits, some people I know have kids who are growing out of things too. Maybe I could get some things from them!

Been wanting some art for the lounge for ages but struggling to find ones I like. The wall does look so bare :(

I love your sitting room, dining area and bedrooms. If you use the top room as a sewing room then stage it as that, it won't put buyers off and shows it is a usable space.

Areas to improve are the bathroom and kitchen.

Bathroom: pull the shower curtain back so buyers can see the set up. I would remove the bath mat for viewings and also move the plant as it was distracting me from being so close to the loo that it looks like you'd be peeing in the jungle (that may just be the angle of the photo)

Kitchen: looks a bit institutional. Again this may be the angle where the fridge is looking quite dominant. Maybe a few homey touches like a coffee machine/teapot, pretty tea towels etc that tie in with some of the colours from elsewhere in the house

Billy childish signed limited additions ( £40 each) on his website or through the L13 workshop. Might aswell buy art that will increase in value.

heres one from his new release

I would accessorise the kitchen a bit: a nice coloured runner/rug on the floor, nice colour lampshade, fruit bowl/basket, even a vase with flowers, or a small table lamp in the corner, brew some nice coffee on the day of the viewings to give it a cosy effect.

In the living room, I'd replace the cat tree with that monstera from in front of the fireplace, it would give some width back to the dining room and a splash of colour to that corner of the living room.

Oh and I'd put something on the fridge side panel, even a nice artsy wall calendar would do

One thing I noticed, which makes it look a bit like a rental, is that there are no pictures up, apart from on the landing.

Don't know if anyone's said this but could you swap the wardrobe and desk? That way it would show you have room for a wardrobe in one room and the window in the other wouldn't be obscured by the desk.

Looks perfect to me , don’t change a thing apart from a bit of colour on a t towel in kitchen. Maybe a larger bunch of mixed muted pinkish flowers to replace the beautiful cat?

I live the lounge particularly