A huge proportion of potential buyers decide on whether a property is 'the one' within seconds of stepping through the door, therefore it is essential that your hallway creates the best possible first impression.
Your home is likely to be your biggest investment, so when it comes to selling, it is only natural that you will want to get the best price possible. With this in mind, we spoke to experts in the estate agency world Phil Price, Managing Director at Crucible Sales and Lettings, and James Ross, Director at ELR, to get some insider advice on how you can ensure that your hallway isn't putting off potential buyers and ultimately devaluing your home.
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Phil Price - Managing Director of Crucible Sales and Lettings Phil is an established name in the South Yorkshire Property Market with over 20 years experience in the industry, including owning his own successful estate agency. Phil is now passionate about heading up Crucible, which is truly an estate agency with a difference, as 100% of their profits go into supporting and housing people in vulnerable situations. |
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James Ross – Director at Eadon, Lockwood and Riddle James has worked at ELR since 2004 and became Director in 2013. On a day-to-day basis, James runs the very busy head office at Banner Cross and deals with all valuations in the South West suburbs of Sheffield. James was shortlisted for 2014's Valuer of the Year at the annual Estate Agent Live Awards. |
We asked the experts…
- What does a hallway say about a property?
- Is a poorly presented hallway likely to devalue a home?
- What elements make a hallway an instant turn-off?
- Has a potential buyer ever made their mind up that they aren't interested in a property before they have gone beyond the hallway?
- Why is that first impression so important?
- How would you advise a seller to tackle their hallway if you could see that it would put potential buyers off?
Here's what they had to say...
What does a hallway say about a property?
Phil: It's all about first impressions. Just like watching a film, the first 2-3 minutes of the viewing will set the tone of what's to come. And, as potential buyers are likely to leave the property through the same hallway, it will also be their last impression, and you really want them to leave a viewing on a high.
James: The hallway sets the first impression for the home, and you can generally tell from the hallway alone whether the house will be well presented throughout or whether it will be a bit tired.
Is a poorly presented hallway likely to devalue a home?
Phil: It will certainly decrease a property's sale-ability, which is likely to result in it selling at a lower price. Potential buyers can't always see how they can put their own stamp on a property, and are often prepared to spend an extra £10k on a 'finished' property than buy an identical property for £10k less that will need perhaps only need £1k work doing on it to bring it up to the same standard.
James: It won't necessarily devalue the home but it will definitely make it a lot less saleable and won't encourage an offer.
What elements make a hallway an instant turn off?
Phil: Dark enclosed hallways and staircases that have the bannisters blocked in really close up the space and make it feel cramped. If you are immediately presented with obstacles when you enter a property, such as a bike in the middle of the hallway, it automatically starts the viewing off on a downer.
James: Poor lighting, poor state of décor, woodchip, signs of damp, finger marks down the walls and threadbare carpets are all instantly off putting to a potential buyer.
Has a potential buyer ever made their mind up that they aren't interested in a property before they have gone beyond the hallway?
Phil: I have been in countless situations where a potential buyer walks into a property and immediately decides that it is not for them. On the other side of the coin, so many clients have said to me "I knew straight away that I wanted that house".
James: Definitely. I have had several instances where the viewer hasn't wanted to look any further than the hallway. The majority of people know straight away when a property is not for them.
Why is that first impression so important?
Phil: Before even viewing a property, potential buyers will have done their homework and already narrowed down their search to suit their budget, desired area and preferred style of property. These days, with property portals open 24/7, houses can be viewed from top to bottom online, along with detailed measurements and floor plans.
This means that there should be very few surprises when they actually view the property, all that's left to put them off making an offer is the property's 'feel' once they step through the door. House buyers pay according to their emotions, and if the house 'feels' right they act on it.
James: If you don't give a good first impression, the viewer will be instantly switched off to the rest of the house. It is important to remember that you are selling a home, not just a house, you need to appeal to the buyers emotional side and you want them to imagine themselves living there.
How would you advise a seller to tackle their hallway if you could see that it would put potential buyers off?
Phil: We regularly advise vendors on steps that they can take to improve the desirability of their home. Freshening up the walls and staircase with a coat of paint can make a big difference, as can unboxing closed in balustrades and replacing with spindles to open up the space.
Sometimes sellers are reluctant to invest in making any improvements to a house believing that is it a waste of money, however spending £1k on general maintenance can sometimes add as much as £10k on to your asking price.
James: Last year we took on a property that was in reasonable condition but it was being let down by a horrible, dark, threadbare carpet that ran right through the hallway, stairs and landing. We advised the vendor to replace it with a new lighter coloured carpet and it made a massive difference to the house, so much so that the property sold for £25k over the asking price.
Start as you mean to go on
Understandably, once you have made the decision to sell up and move on, it can be difficult to find the inclination to spend time or money doing up your existing home. However, as our experts suggest, that little extra effort can make a big difference to the sale-ability of your home, and ultimately the selling price.
A simple lick of paint and a general de-clutter will instantly brighten up a room, but if you want to go a step further and totally open up your space, take our experts advice, and consider replacing shabby carpets and opening up bannisters, (as per this before and after example to ensure that you hallway creates the best possible first impression for potential buyers.
Potential buyers can decide whether a property is ‘the one’ within seconds of stepping through the door, so it’s essential that the first room, often a hallway, creates the best possible first impression. Your home will likely be the biggest investment you’ve ever made, and when it comes to selling, it’s only natural to want to get the best price possible. So, is your hallway costing you your asking price?
Your hallway will likely be the first and last room a potential buyer experiences whilst viewing your home. A poorly presented hallway can often be a signal that further work is required, with dark hallways and closed balustrades affecting the feel of the home. Buyers may be resistant to putting in an offer because of:
- Poor lighting
- Tired decor
- Signs of damp
- Marks on paint
- Closed-in space
- Threadbare carpets
In this blog, we’ll get some insider advice from real estate experts so you can ensure that your hallway isn’t putting off potential buyers and, ultimately, devaluing your home.
Jump to:
- Our experts
- What does a hallway say about a property?
- Is a poorly presented hallway likely to devalue a home?
- What elements make a hallway an instant turn-off?
- Can a hallway make or break a decision?
- Why is the first impression so important?
- How can sellers tackle common hallway problems to attract potential buyers?
- Do hallway renovations offer a good return on investment?
- Start as you mean to go on
Our experts
Phil Price | Sales Director at Purple Bricks
An established name in the South Yorkshire property market, with over 25 years of experience in the industry.
James Ross | Director at Eadon, Lockwood and Riddle
Having worked at ELR since 2004, James became Director in 2013. On a daily basis, James runs the very busy Banner Cross head office and deals with all valuations in the South West suburbs of Sheffield. In 2014, James was shortlisted for Valuer of the Year at the Estate Agent Live Awards.
Here’s what Phil and James had to say about whether a hallway truly can affect the offer a potential buyer makes to you.
What does a hallway say about a property?
“It's all about first impressions. Just like watching a film, the first 2-3 minutes of the viewing will set the tone of what's to come. And, as potential buyers are likely to leave the property through the same hallway, it will also be their last impression, and you really want them to leave a viewing on a high.”
-Phil
“The hallway sets the first impression for the home, and you can generally tell from the hallway alone whether the house will be well presented throughout or whether it will be a bit tired.”
-James
Is a poorly presented hallway likely to devalue a home?
“It will certainly decrease a property's saleability, which is likely to result in it selling at a lower price. Potential buyers can't always see how they can put their own stamp on a property, and are often prepared to spend an extra £10k on a 'finished' property than buy an identical property for £10k less that will need perhaps only £1k work doing on it to bring it up to the same standard.”
-Phil
“It won't necessarily devalue the home, but it will definitely make it a lot less saleable and won't encourage an offer.”
-James
What elements can make a hallway an instant turn-off?
“Dark enclosed hallways and staircases that have the bannisters blocked in really close up the space and make it feel cramped. If you are immediately presented with obstacles when you enter a property, such as a bike in the middle of the hallway, it automatically starts the viewing off on a downer.”
-Phil
“Poor lighting, poor state of décor, woodchip, signs of damp, finger marks down the walls, and threadbare carpets are all instantly off-putting to a potential buyer.”
-James
Can a hallway make or break a decision?
“I have been in countless situations where a potential buyer walks into a property and immediately decides that it is not for them. On the other side of the coin, so many clients have said to me, “I knew straight away that I wanted that house.”
-Phil
“Definitely. I have had several instances where the viewer hasn't wanted to look any further than the hallway. The majority of people know straight away when a property is not for them.”
-James
Why is the first impression so important?
“Before even viewing a property, potential buyers will have done their homework and already narrowed down their search to suit their budget, desired area and preferred style of property. These days, with property portals open 24/7, houses can be viewed from top to bottom online, along with detailed measurements and floor plans.
This means that there should be very few surprises when they actually view the property; all that's left to put them off making an offer is the property's feel once they step through the door. House buyers pay according to their emotions, and if the house 'feels' right, they act on it.”
-Phil
“If you don't give a good first impression, the viewer will be instantly switched off to the rest of the house. It is important to remember that you are selling a home, not just a house; you need to appeal to the buyer's emotional side, and you want them to imagine themselves living there.”
-James
How can sellers tackle common hallway problems to attract potential buyers?
“We regularly advise vendors on steps that they can take to improve the desirability of their home. Freshening up the walls and staircase with a coat of paint can make a big difference, as can unboxing closed-in balustrades and replacing them with spindles to open up the space.
Sometimes sellers are reluctant to invest in making any improvements to a house, believing that it is a waste of money; however, spending £1k on general maintenance can sometimes add as much as £10k onto your asking price.”
-Phil
“Last year we took on a property that was in reasonable condition, but it was being let down by a horrible, dark, threadbare carpet that ran right through the hallway, stairs and landing. We advised the vendor to replace it with a new lighter coloured carpet, and it made a massive difference to the house, so much so that the property sold for £25k over the asking price.”
-James
Do hallway renovations offer a good return on investment?
According to estate agency firm Whitegates, making changes to improve first impressions of your home can offer a return on investment (ROI) of up to 65%. Like our experts, their team says that “a tidy, welcoming space with neutral tones and good lighting can set the tone for the rest of the viewing”.
The key is to make your hallway a representation of the rest of your home, if it’s the first room potential buyers will walk into. You don’t have to make huge structural changes; you simply need to focus on creating a clean, organised, and warm environment for viewers to step into.
Start as you mean to go on
Once you’ve decided to sell up and move on, it can, understandably, be hard to find the motivation to spend time or money improving your existing home. However, as our experts have explained, that little bit of extra effort can make a big difference to the saleability of your home and, ultimately, the final selling price.
A simple lick of paint and a general declutter of your hallway will instantly brighten up the room. But why not go a step further and totally open up your space by replacing shabby carpets and switching up your balustrade?
Take a look at our before and after below to see an example of how you can change your hallway to create the best possible first impression for potential buyers.
Get the best from your hallway with Jackson Woodturners
It’s clear that tired paint and blocked off balustrades can make a huge difference to a potential buyer’s first impressions of your home. The stair parts available at Jackson Woodturners, from new spindles to revamped handrails, are available in a range of designs and materials to get you the best price for your home.
Need a hand with renovating your staircase? Get in touch with the expert team here at Jackson Woodturners. We’re now in our fourth generation of our family-run business, with everyone here working hard to help you achieve your dream staircase.
