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A 26x return on your money might sound unbelievable, but this is the real-life story of how one seller did it—and how you can apply her winning strategy to your own home.
Alison’s home was valued at £235,000, but she knew her neighbours were selling for closer to £245,000. Determined to close that gap, she decided to invest £1,000 to boost her home’s appeal.
Her friends said she was wasting her time, and even her husband was doubtful, insisting that buyers change everything anyway, and that spending £1,000 wouldn’t add any real value.
Undeterred, Alison pressed on, and after going a tad over budget at £1,109, her home went on the market at £250,000. She had ten viewings over the first weekend, and three firm offers.
The first, of £255,000, gave instant vindication. Second came a cash bid of £266,000, followed by a third offer at a staggering £275,000 – £40,000 above the initial valuation – from a buyer with a home to sell.
Alison accepted the £266,000 cash. She was moving to Italy, liked being chain-free, and the extra £29,000 was enough to take time out of work to focus on managing builders in Florence.
So, how did Alison achieve such a massive return on her spend? Let’s take a room-by-room journey around her home for a remarkably simple lesson in the art of styling to sell, covering:
In just a few minutes, you’ll discover how Alison’s clever combination of what she already owned and a thoughtful shopping list can work just as well for you, no matter the value of your home.
Alison proved that you don’t need to spend a fortune on styling your home to make a huge impact.
As she says, “It’s about understanding who your potential buyer is and seeing your home through their eyes to suggest a lifestyle and create an emotional connection.”
We couldn’t have put that any better, so here are Alison’s big five takeaways, in her own words:
Having done so well, Alison proved the effort was easily worth it. “We got so much more than we ever dreamt we would; it’s transformed our finances and the possibilities of our move.”
Alison chose a theme of big, bright, and light. She focused on showcasing as much of the lovely parquet floor as possible, and keeping the window clear – it spans the full width of the room and gets lots of sun.
Alison’s living room was a simple rectangle without many features, so she decided to simply let the size and the light do the talking, with the minimum of distractions.
Alison’s kitchen had a checkerboard floor and cupboards with rounded edges, so she played on a mildly 1950s vibe in staging her theme of competent and enjoyable cooking. Some of the main steps were:
All of this gave the kitchen a genuinely fun and usable feel – somewhere you’d look forward to making coffee in the morning or pulling out a recipe book and making a big evening meal together.
Alison’s home had two bedrooms, and she gave one a Victorian glam theme based on its 19th-century wardrobe, and the other a mid-century modern look, riffing off the Danish teak wardrobe in there.
The one big change was selling her luxuriously huge bed, which dominated the main bedroom: it wasn’t going to Italy, so she sold it and bought a standard-sized double, making the room feel twice as big.
Alison’s bathroom was the weakest spot in her home, but the cheapest quote she’d had to refurbish it was £10,000. So, she rolled up her sleeves to see if she could create a luxury bathing zone on her own.
At the end, Alison was asked if her bathroom was brand new! That’s quite a result and proves that scrubbing and staging can save thousands of pounds.
We’d love to help you maximise your sale price and find a buyer fast by perfecting your presentation with some practical and effective staging tips.
We’ve helped many people selling their homes in Cheshire to do the same, so call us on 01565 318 622 or message us at enquiries@lordandporter.com for a friendly chat to get things started.