How stylists make shabby joints look like five-star luxury

When looking for your dream home or property keep an eye out for these common techniques that real estate agents try and fool you with.

Come on in. But maybe don’t look too closely. Image: iStock

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If you’re on the hunt for a forever home, especially in a major city, you’re likely inspecting professionally styled properties. But all that styling disappears the moment you get the keys, so do look beyond the sumptuous soft furnishings, warns buyer’s agent Michelle May, who says the following techniques are common place.

Buyer’s agent Michelle May says these are the tricks to look out for. Picture: Supplied.

Removing the curtains: this makes a room look brighter, bigger and a lot cleaner but is generally not a practical way to live.

So light, so bright. So ... wait? Where are the curtains? Picture: iStock.

Turning the lights on: an easy way to hide a lack of natural light. Switch lights off to get a more accurate representation of lighting.

Swapping furniture for smaller pieces: a bedroom looks bigger with a double bed over a king; the same goes for couches.

This room is so wonderful and bright. Switch off the lights and uh oh ... Picture: iStock.

Playing music: a curated playlist is an easy way to create a homely vibe in a property and also a great way to distract from unwanted noises such as arguing neighbours, traffic, barking dogs and screeching pipes.

This music is so peaceful ... I guess you can’t hear that road outside at all. Um ... no. Picture: iStock

Sending belongings to storage: the price of a storage unit for a few weeks is insignificant compared to many thousands on a sale price, which is what good styling can bring to a sale. Many sellers pack up their non-essentials while their home is on the market, so ask yourself, ‘what’s missing here?’

Um, where’s the storage? Where’s your stuff? WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR STUFF? Image: iStock.

And then there’s this ...

One major factor often forgotten in the excitement of open homes is storage.

From appliances such as air fryers and rice cookers in the kitchen to the ironing board, vacuum cleaner, tools, lawn mower, excess linen, suitcases, and even shoes.

No matter how minimally you live, you’ll undoubtedly have a few bulky items that need a home.

Keep a checklist of things you own on your phone as you wander around any open homes to help you avoid any rude shocks come move-in day.

And over here we have the storage. It’s the ONLY storage, cough, cough. Image: iStock

Originally published as How stylists make shabby joints look like five-star luxury