Is the Instagram effect changing the way we sell homes?
Home styling has been a popular trend for a number of years – with some evidence to support that it improves a seller’s chances of selling and increases a property’s asking price.
However, following the recent enforced period of isolation at home, research suggests that our obsession with home styling has soared. In particular among the younger, tech-savvy demographics who are often labelled as the Instagram generation.
With Brits regularly swooning over dreamy interior images on social media and striving for the same envy-inducing shots, a new survey carried out by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) found 38% of respondents admitting that they will not take photos of their home if it is not up to the standards that they set themselves online.
The research, released to mark the launch of New Homes Week Unlocked, found that one in five Brits (19%) state they have spent time cleaning a room in their house specifically to create a background for ‘the perfect photo’ to upload for social media, while nearly a quarter (23%) of Brits aged between 25-34 look to social media for home inspiration every day, compared to just one in seven (14%) aged between 45-54.
Meanwhile, 38% of people across the UK said they will not take photos inside their house if it isn’t photo-ready, with over half (51%) of those aged 25-34 revealing the same obsession.
With everyday people now documenting their new homes and sharing tips and tricks on Instagram, social media platforms are playing a bigger role than ever on the home buying and selling journey.
The research also found that 16% of respondents are not currently happy with the way their home is decorated, while 18% of Brits say they would be prepared to spend over £10,000 annually on decorating their home to make it look picture perfect.
In addition, almost a quarter of people (22%) aged 25-34 revealed that whilst being in lockdown their interest in interior design increased, compared to just 12% of those aged 45-54.
Sophie Robinson, designer, TV presenter, influencer, podcast host and interiors expert, is supporting New Homes Week Unlocked, and said: “Instagram and interiors are the perfect match and whether you’re a professional designer or passionate fixer upper, we’re all plumping cushions, squirrelling away the mess and playing with lighting and filters to get the shots of our homes looking just right.”
She added: “There’s an exciting opportunity to utilise all the brilliant interior advice and design inspiration out there, without the challenges of taking on costly renovations. You can focus on the pretty stuff!”
How can home styling help you to sell?
As the old saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words, and imagery will play a hugely important role in getting eyes on your property in the first place.
Without high-quality photographs to accompany your listing, whether it be on the portals or your agent’s website, or even in some cases via a newspaper, magazine or brochure, you will struggle to generate much interest in your home.
It is, after all, the pictures that draw people in above anything else. While the floorplans and property description are vital, it will be the imagery which diverts people’s eyes in the first instance.
Pictures are even more important in the current Covid-19 situation because there is a chance it will take a buyer longer to see the actual home in person – with virtual viewings still being encouraged where possible. In some cases, the buyer may never see the house in the flesh – although this is very rare – and will make their decision based on the photos and virtual tour alone.
So, while some might accuse the Instagram generation of vanity and perfectionism, this obsessive attention to detail might actually be a real help when it comes to selling a home. How you style and display your property could make all the difference between offers being received and interest being hard to come by.
Getting the best shot is all-important, and many young people will have the desired skills to make this possible given how much time they spend on honing their Insta profiles. Equally, it can pay to have professionally taken photographs to really maximise the selling points of your home.
Speak with your agent to decide on what approach is better. Home styling – often known as home staging – can really help your property stand out from the crowd, which will be more important than ever as more sellers come to the market.
The stamp duty holiday and strong recovery of the housing market won’t only encourage buyers to act, but sellers, too – eager to take advantage of the high demand while it’s there. Which means, of course, that competition could be high.
You can find a range of home styling tips here. As mentioned above, home styling is a very useful way of adding value to your home without needing to resort to expensive and time-consuming renovation projects. With some clever use of lighting, colour and texture, your home can take on that desirable show home look. Don’t go too mad, though - a complete overhaul of your home is not required. Don’t feel you need to follow all the latest trends or completely change your décor because of something you’ve seen on someone else’s Instagram account.
Stick to your own interior design principles, but try and also make the house as neutral as possible so that buyers can imagine the space as their own. Not everyone will be after the same thing – some will prefer rustic and homely, while others will prize Scandi minimalism – so there is no point in reinventing the wheel.
As long as your home is clean, attractive and welcoming, you will find suitable buyers. Home staging is just an extra tool to add to your armoury. Here at Kings Group, our offices are now open again from 10am to 5pm, strictly adhering to our Covid-19 policy.
You can find out more about our client Covid policy here. To find out more about getting your home sold in these unusual times, please contact us at one of our many branches across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
