When selling a property you can use home staging as a means of presenting the house in the best possible light. The primary goal is to emphasise its strengths and diminish its weaknesses.

It can be hard work, but data suggest that it can attract more viewings, reduce the time spent on the market and, in many cases, closer to the asking price.

Thankfully, it doesn't require a full renovation or significant expenditure to accomplish.

• Kerb Appeal
• Natural Light and Space
• Decorating and Furnishing
• Cleaning and Maintenance
• One Purpose per Room
• Photography
• Knowing your buyer
• Professional Home Staging and Costs

Kerb Appeal

First impressions can play a big part of a buyer's decision making. Whether you're selling a villa or an apartment, the exterior of the building will set the tone for the viewing.

You don't need to make your outdoor space perfect, but decluttering and tidying gardens, patios or terraces will greatly improve the presentation, which includes taking good care of any plants kept in those spaces. Where applicable you could also consider:

• Pressure wash paving
• Store bins away
• Apply a fresh coat of paint where its worn or peeling

However, for properties with a communal entrance, there are limits to what you can control, but ensuring the immediate approach to the front door is as presentable as possible can make a difference.

Natural Light and Space

Light and space are consistently prized features in a property, and both can be improved without structural changes.

Make sure windows are clean, and fully open blinds or curtains prior to any viewing to maximise the amount of natural-light that enters. Mirrors placed near entrances or opposite windows can help amplify light and sense of space, as well as inviting visitors to see themselves in the home.

Where natural light is limited, warm, layered, artificial lighting can make for an attractive alternative; avoid using harsh lighting that may make the space look more clinical than cosy.

One of the simplest ways to create space is to make use of absence. Removing and rearranging furniture, even if it's temporarily, can help show off a room's proportions.

Additionally, minimising clutter under beds and in storage spaces helps avoid giving the impression that there isn't enough space in the property.

Decorating and Furnishing

One of the key principles of home staging is ensuring that the space appeals to the broadest range of buyers as possible instead of reflecting personal taste.

Usually this can be accomplished by making use of neutral elements, without making rooms look bare. Pale walls, light-coloured, soft furnishings, simple rugs and uncluttered surfaces create a clean and calm environment, making it easier for visitors to imagine what they would do with the space.

Walls are best left relatively clear, using them only for a mirror or tasteful art piece where otherwise they would look empty. Personal photographs and memorabilia can make it difficult for the buyer to separate the property from its current owners.

Accessories can contribute positively, particularly if they help simplify the space, for example, a plant here and there can make the space feel fresh, plain ceramic soap dispensers are better than a cluttered bathroom shelf.

There is some debate about personal touches such as family photographs. A small number can make a space feel less sterile, but too many clearly establishes the property as yours, not the potential buyer's.

Whatever choices you make, a good rule of thumb for home staging is less tends to be more.

Cleaning and Maintenance

While you might not necessarily be aiming for unrealistic standards of a show-home, the impact of thorough and consistent cleanliness cannot be overstated. A deep clean of surfaces, especially places that might be overlooked, such as grouting, light fittings and window frames can make a huge difference.

Before any photos are taken to advertise the property, make sure to fill holes in walls, replace anything broken and attend to anything worn to show that the place is well-maintained and looked after.

Scent is something that can be sometimes overlooked. A property that smells of cooking, damp or pets can impact the impression, regardless of how well presented the property is. It's recommendable to avoid strong-artificial scents, which might seem like they are being used to mask something.

If pets live in the property, when possible store away beds, bowls, toys, litter trays and the like before any viewing.

One Purpose per Room

When staging home, each room should communicate its purpose clearly. A bedroom that serves as a home office can create a negative perception about a property's capacity. A dining area that has become a dumping ground makes it difficult for a buyer to assess the room's size and potential.

You don't need to make every room perfect, rather considering what the buyer is expecting to see and whether that is clearly communicated.

If time and resources are limited you can focus on the rooms that carry the most weight in decision making, which will typically be the living room, kitchen and master bedroom.

Photography

More often than not, a buyer will encounter a property through a listing, and the photographs used there will play a big part in whether they want to arrange a viewing.

Any photography should be done when lighting is at its best and angles should be chosen to emphasise the space, making it feel as open and inviting as possible.

Knowing your buyer

For home staging, the decisions you make can be improved by considering who the potential buyer might be. A family of four will have different priorities to retirees, for example.

In Marina Alta, the buyer profile is predominantly international, especially from Northern Europe including the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, with many attracted to places like Jávea, Dénia and Moraira.

Given that this implies many buyers are likely attracted by the climate and lifestyle, therefore emphasis on outdoor spaces or the views of the landscape from the interior are worthy of attention.

For properties likely to attract families, you might consider converting a study to a second bedroom to reflect the suitability of the space.

You can't cater for every buyer, nor do you have to break the bank to do it, but understanding who might be buying the house can inform the choices you make when staging your property and help you sell it faster.

Professional Home Staging and Costs

The principles of home staging are relatively straightforward, but it can require a lot of time and effort for the best results, not to mention the potential for additional costs of buying or hiring furniture you won't be keeping.

It is, of course, possible to achieve good results without aiming for perfection and professional services exist to help with the process. Costs typically start as low as €300 and reach as high as €5,000, although they can be more for luxury properties with outdoor spaces.

At Grupo Marcos Marco, our basic services begin at €195, while for larger properties we offer a custom approach starting from €1,500. You can consult the table below for more details and don't hesitate to get in touch with our experts to arrange a consultation.

Service	Price*	Service description
Property Presentation Consultation	€195	A professional walk-through of your property with practical, room-by-room advice on how to present it at its best. We identify what should be removed, rearranged, edited or improved before photography and viewings.
Essential Property Preparation	€395	Ideal for properties that are already reasonably well presented. We declutter, rearrange existing furniture, edit visual distractions and style the main living spaces, bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms using what you already have.
Complete Home Staging	€695	Our most popular service. We work hands-on throughout the property to create a more spacious, attractive and marketable presentation. Includes decluttering, furniture repositioning, styling, editing of personal possessions and preparation of all key rooms for photography and viewings.
Full Property Transformation	€995	For properties requiring more substantial preparation. We undertake an extensive room-by-room transformation, including heavier decluttering, furniture editing, storage areas where appropriate, outdoor spaces and detailed styling using the owner's existing belongings.
Large / Luxury Property	From €1,500	A bespoke service for larger homes, villas and premium properties requiring additional time and attention. We assess the property individually and provide a tailored quotation based on its size, condition and level of preparation required.
Photography-Day Final Preparation	€195	A final pre-photography visit to ensure everything is presented perfectly. We reset rooms, clear remaining distractions, adjust furniture and styling, and make sure the property is camera-ready before the photographer arrives.