The sitting room after Liv worked on it (Image: undefined)
A savvy property stager has turned the tide for a London-based Victorian flat that languished on the market for half a year without a single offer, securing a sale in a mere 10 days at the full asking price of £625,000. Liv Conlon, a 25-year-old Glaswegian now residing in Marbella, operates The Property Stagers, a firm that stylishly outfits over 400 homes annually to captivate prospective buyers, reports MyLondon.
Staging, the art of aesthetically preparing a home to ensnare a buyer’s interest, was precisely what the company did for flat-owner Kathryn’s flat, enhancing it with rental furniture, lively decorative flourishes, and chic accessories like rugs, mirrors, and art to illustrate the potential of the living spaces.
Once the two-bed, two-bath West Hampstead abode was relisted in January, the estate agent swiftly secured 12 viewings, leading to three bids within just 10 days, culminating in a winning offer matching the £625,000 price tag.
Kathryn was overjoyed, attributing the quick sale to The Property Stagers’ flair for making the flat pop in RightMove listing photos, a crucial factor she believes drew the attention it needed.
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How the kitchen looked before (Image: undefined)
The kitchen after the revamp – the difference is impressive (Image: undefined)
Kathryn expressed her gratitude, saying: “We wouldn’t have had that much interest had the flat not been staged, because it made each of the rooms stand out in the photos we used on RightMove.
“There were lots of similar flats on the market but mine really stood out, which I don’t think it would have done without the staging. It just took it to another level. It was worth every penny. Their team used a colour scheme that I would never have thought of myself, with lots of bright yellow, which against the navy kitchen and the grey bathrooms, really looked great – especially in the photos, which drew you in and made you look. And it did the job. The flat was sold in just days!”
Kathryn purchased the flat back in 2001 for £195,000 and embarked on a significant renovation project, converting it into a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property. A year later, Kathryn moved out and let the property for two decades, which inevitably wore down the decor.
Last year, she decided to put it up for sale at £575,000 – a price reduced to reflect the need for refurbishment.
However, six months on, despite several viewings, the property remained unsold and required further price reduction. “Everybody could see that it needed quite a bit of work,” Kathryn admitted.
“It was too much of a project and so we didn’t get any offers at all even though it had been on the market a long time at a significant discount.
After working on the property, the flat sold in days (Pictured, Liv Conlon) (Image: undefined)
“I was apprehensive about Capital Gains Tax potentially increasing in October so I was frantically trying to sell it before the budget announcement, but it just wouldn’t shift, so I realised I was going to have to take the plunge and renovate it myself.”
Following a £55,000 renovation spend, Kathryn fround the flat still felt hollow, prompting her to contact Liv and co.
The professional styling dramatically boosted its attractiveness, especially online via RightMove, leading to its rapid purchase.
Kathryn explained: “I was aware of property staging, and the flat looked really sad and empty, so I contacted a couple of companies, one of which was ThePropertyStagers and I really liked their responsiveness and I warmed to what they said they were going to do for me.
“The flat was also partially furnished because I kept some of the furniture in case it didn’t sell again and I needed to re-rent it. They were very flexible, working around my furniture, which was very helpful.
“When you’ve spent so much on renovating, an extra few thousand wasn’t an issue. The difference when I walked in after they’d staged it, it was like a different flat. It was unbelievable what they did!”
Liv Conlon, who earned the title of The UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 after establishing ThePropertyStagers aged just 16, explains that preparing a property for sale differs vastly from typical residential living arrangements.
The ThePropertyStagers team, which has secured 13 accolades both domestically and globally, employs decorative elements including wall art and ornaments to enhance a home’s marketability. Liv disclosed that successful property sales hinge on maintaining neutral palettes, eliminating clutter, and incorporating splashes of colour, texture and design through soft furnishings.
Liv Conlon runs ThePropertyStagers (Image: undefined)
Liv explained: “Property staging can make the difference between a home not selling, and being sold in just days – I’ve seen it happen so many times. Viewers want to imagine themselves living in the space, so if it’s empty or decorated too personally, it becomes more difficult.
“ThePropertyStagers staged the kitchen and dining area with bright accessories, bold artwork, a cosy rug, as well as oversized vases, and giant mirrors.
“We also set up the dining table with crockery, and added colourful cushions on the sofas. In the two bedrooms, we dressed the double beds, adding blankets, lamps, vases and artwork. The overall effect hugely complements the flat, creating a warm, luxurious vibe, which obviously did the trick as it sold in just 10 days!”.
TEDx presenter Liv, who has relocated to Marbella, also operates StagerBoss – mentoring other women to develop thriving home-staging enterprises worth seven figures. She emphasised that in today’s market, interior styling must be eye-catching and captivate prospective purchasers.
Kathryn remarked: “The staging made it stand out. It did look good before, but it had my old furniture in there, and they dressed that furniture and made it look really good. I just don’t think I would have had the same level of interest in the property without their services.
“I’m buying another flat in the same area to renovate and stage for sale again. I will be using the same team – including The Property Stagers – as it’s a winning team for me!”.