Home stylists - a good option for the time poor

Most of us are time poor and juggling priorities at the best of times.  So the prospect of preparing a home for sale is daunting, especially as the expectations of buyers attuned to reality TV-standard presentation are increasingly high.
 
For many vendors the answer is using a stylist.  These talented professionals, most of whom have an interior design qualification, do far more than simply advise on decluttering and which pieces of furniture to store.  Stylists and their assistants do everything from dispatching furniture for storage to making beds with special linen and arranging flowers.
 
Many real estate agencies have an ongoing relationship with real estate stylists whom they recommend to their clients.  This helps clients save time and agents obtain the best possible price.  And agents say that if a home has not been styled to the level buyers expect they are often disappointed.
 
Some vendors have all their possessions removed and replaced with those chosen by the stylist.  Some stylists have hire arrangements with stores, but others have large warehouses to contain their collections of everything from cushions and rugs to pots of herbs for the kitchen bench.
 
But a word of warning there is a danger that over-styled homes can appear sterile and uninviting.  This can actually deter buyers who cannot imagine themselves, or anyone, living there.  So retain a few personal touches and avoid a clinical look.
 
ENZO RAIMONDO
Chief Executive Officer