The importance of being well dressed

Court Close, St John's Wood, NW8, Interior Design, Dressed, Furnishings, Lettings, Sales
Court Close, St John’s Wood, NW8 Available to let – Click here for more information 

 

There is only one chance to make a first impression and that is as true of property as it is of anything – potential buyers arrive expecting to see what they are looking for and do not want to be confronted by what they are not looking for.

While good presentation may not necessarily increase the value of a property (or increase its asking or rental price), it can be hugely significant in attracting viewings and securing your asking price/rate, particularly in a challenging market.

Beauchamp Estates’ Lettings Manager, Francesca Fox, in talking with The Negotiator magazine, highlights that a highly competitive lettings market has been created by the wide range of instructions currently available to let in prime central London, as some owners have chosen to let rather then sell (at least short term).

“While we do have long standing clients who will provide us with a brief, against which we provide a short list of options for them to consider, the vast majority of clients start their search, at least initially, online. Whether at home, in the office or waiting to board a flight at any airport lounge in the world, they can start their search and checkout what is available.”

“Presentation and good photography are key to attracting initial interest, particularly online. A furnished, well-dressed property will always attract more interest and subsequent viewings than one that is empty.”  This can also be said about sales properties.

Francesca continues, “Those that stand out are the ones that are best dressed. Careful choice of furniture and furnishings can give an otherwise less favorable property the edge over a technically better alternative, securing tenants more quickly. In many instances clients are buying a lifestyle and looking to see something that they feel is both representative of their style and feels like home. It is key that the agent and landlord work together to prepare the property for viewing and that they know precisely who their target clientele will be, based on location, price, style of property, etc. and furnish accordingly. Penthouses and chintz are not a combination that is widely appealing, and many would-be landlords forget that they are presenting their properties not to please their own design sensibilities, but to attract a tenant.”

Interior Design, Dressed, Furnished, Design features, wine cellarThe rise of the discerning tenant is a clear trend at all price points in the market for lettings, as both long-term and short-term landlords have been required to up their game in the presentation stakes. Beauchamp Estates, at no additional charge, provides advice in this area and can, if agreed upon with the client, undertake full or partial furnishing of a property (at the client’s cost), using specialist furniture hire companies. In addition, Beauchamp Estates also works with some of the world’s leading interior designers and architects and can provide advice at the very start of any project, large or small.

Presentation and dressing of new sales properties through the use of show homes and dressed apartments is the norm, but it is something that is also starting to be deployed in some re-sale properties, particularly where the property is vacant and at the higher end of the market.

Wilton Road is an immaculately dressed one bedroom apartment in London SW1, that may attract a young professional. Equally, a current instruction on London’s prestigious Avenue Road may attract those with families and demanding business commitments, who need a property that is both a home and venue for business.

Read the full article Dress to impress

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