05/10/2026
I’m a property stylist. But right now, I’m also a potential buyer.
And over the weekend, one property stayed in my mind - even though none of the homes I inspected were professionally styled.
Hear me out. Same complex, basically the same layout, similar price range. But three very different experiences.
The first was tenanted and had been virtually styled online.
I knew that before I arrived. But walking through the door, the gap between the photos and the reality was still confronting (that’s saying something of if I thought that).
The kitchen bench hadn’t even been wiped down. And suddenly, everything that needed work was what I noticed first.
A renovation doesn’t faze me. But the photos had built an expectation that the inspection didn’t meet (not even close). I’m all about showing potential but this was a stretch.
The second had fresh paint, new floors and fresh grass outside.
Nothing elaborate. It was neat, felt spacious, and the updates had been done well.
That’s the one I kept thinking about afterwards.
The third needed renovating too, but the photos showed it as it was. It was priced lower, and having just seen what could be achieved in the previous property, I could picture the opportunity even more than when I saw it online.
But here’s the thing: I do this for a living.
I can mentally move furniture, change finishes and see what a room could become.
You can’t assume every buyer will do that.
Some will walk in, see the work, feel overwhelmed and move on.
That’s where thoughtful preparation and property styling can help, even in a home that needs renovating (I have styled plenty and some you wouldn’t even know it).
Give each room a clear purpose. Show what fits. Help buyers notice the features worth buying the home for.
The work still exists. But buyers have something beyond the work to connect with.
After being on the buyer’s side this weekend, that really stayed with me.
What are buyers noticing first in your home, the work, or the possibility?
It also got me thinking - if I got style all three what would the buyer experience have been???
I know it would have been better!