First impressions are crucial when it comes to renting out or selling a property.
This is especially true in the London property market where the vast array of options available to tenants and investors necessitates making your property stand out.
One of the ways we ensure this happens for our landlords at Rocket is through staging their properties before viewings take place.
Tasked with this job at Rocket we have Zania Temple, who has a degree in printed textiles and fine art, she has previously worked for Designers Guild and she has over 30 years’ experience in the property industry in interior design, staging and refurbishments.
We asked Zania to share her expertise with us, so we can give our landlords an insight into the handling of their properties at Rocket, and here’s what she had to say:
The most important consideration when it comes to staging a property for rental or sale is cost.
At Rocket, our main aim is always to maximise profits for landlords and this principle permeates every aspect of our business.
When we begin preparing a property for viewings, we will decide on a budget with the landlord and then our goal is always to come in under this budget.
After the budget is agreed decided, there is no more time burden on the landlord’s part, as we will take care of the rest.
In terms of practicalities, I’ll choose furniture that fits the space well without making the rooms appear smaller or bigger than they actually are.
I’ll also add bedspreads, cushions, rugs, mirrors, pictures on the wall and whatever else is necessary to allow potential tenants to be able to imagine themselves living at the property.
As for a colour palette, I’ll generally stick to neutral and simple colours, because colour is very subjective and so you don’t want to put anybody off with something too loud or brash.
With that being said, it’s worth including a pop of colour in some of the accessories as a reference point for the potential tenants so they can remember the property later and think,“I liked that property with the yellow cushions”.
The selection of furniture and accessories hinges on the property's style, be it a period home or a modern unit, as well as the client's budget.
So, for more cost-effective staging furniture and accessories, IKEA and Habitat are good choices, but for those with a larger budget, OKA or similar outlets are excellent options.
But, we’ll spend the time searching around for deals to make sure the landlord is getting the most value for money.
It’s also worth noting that at Rocket, we stage a lot of properties and so often we’ll have a few items that we can move from property to property to help cut costs for landlords.
Or landlords will be selling to invest in another property, so the staging furniture and accessories can be reused rather than going to waste.
Ultimately, staging a property doesn't require a significant investment, and if it results in the property being rented or sold even a week sooner than it would have without staging, then the costs will be easily recouped.
Staging is just one of many aspects of our property management service at Rocket, so if you’re looking for a more personal and attentive approach to managing your property portfolio, then contact us here.
