It was Monday morning when I got the call. On the other end of the line was Patti, lovely owner of a lovely condo. A fairly new build, even more recently upgraded. Warm buff paint dressed the walls. Richly toned hardwood floors gleamed. The upgraded quartz countertops positively glittered. A homebuyer’s dream – it even had a spectacular view into a private forest!

So why was it sitting on the market with little interest, after 6 weeks?

In a word: Emptiness.

It was empty – vacant, if you prefer – but empty is exactly how it left buyers feeling. Staging aims to create buyer appeal and make your property stand out from the rest. Artful staging appeals to the senses and presents a lifestyle that buyers desire. As a vacant, this condo was going nowhere. The viewers who stopped in didn’t stay long and didn’t make an offer. The forest actually added to the impression that the place had been abandoned.

In a single day we shifted the condo from lifeless to loved, offering a fresh feel that encouraged buyers to relax and enjoy the scenery. Creamy leather and linen brightened the room and hit the right note of casual chic for target buyers. Energetic green and aubergine added verve.

It’s a strange phenomenon that empty rooms feel smaller than well-dressed rooms. In the master bedroom, the textural touches created a spacious but inviting retreat.

End result? Let the numbers tell the story.

• Days on the market before staging: 46.
• Days on the market after staging? 7.

Thrilled with the results, our homeowner declared, “I should have staged from the start!”

The best part? The new owner liked the look so much, she offered to buy the contents. A great compliment for our team!