Although it has been many years since I’ve been house-hunting, I well remember some of the places I’ve viewed in the past. Some which were described as ‘immaculate’ should have been reported instantly for misrepresentation under the Trade Descriptions Act. Others were beautifully clean and tidy, but felt ‘off’ for one reason or another.

Now with a daughter in the property world, I have insight into why some perfectly nice places don’t sell quickly or easily. You can have two houses in the same street, with the same architectural style, and even similar colour schemes, and one will sell quickly and the other won’t. It is really intriguing as to why this should be the case.

It’s more than just the ‘vibe’ of a place – we humans are complex creatures, and pick up clues about people and places subliminally. Clutter is an obvious no-no if you are putting your home on the market, but there are other, subtler ways to make your house appealing. Yes, we all know about brewing fresh coffee, the smell of baking bread, and vases full of flowers upping the appeal factor, but pictures on the walls will also have a direct effect on your viewers.

A selection of beautifully framed pictures can make a big difference! (Image courtesy of @formanpictureframing, design by @willsaks of #homepolishnyc for @carecarlson with ? @juliarobbs)

It isn’t so much that they need to love your art – they don’t. The trick is to get your viewer to imagine themselves as living in your home, which means you should put away all those photographs or family portraits, and stick to the sort of art which is appropriate to the style and period of your home. It doesn’t have to be anodyne, but it does have to ‘go’ with the style you are trying to project.

Nudes in either pictorial or statue form are generally not a good idea, apparently, as some of the more prudish elements of the buying public may be disturbed and put off by them: these and so-called ‘Statement Art’ which might be considered provocative is better put into storage for the duration.

It’s a trend that’s gaining ground, apparently – property developers use art to create the homely feel they want to convey, and eschew anything political or figurative. Abstract is acceptable, apparently. If you are selling your home, it’s better to have a few good pieces well displayed that loads of distracting frames that can make a room look crowded and thus smaller. Sometimes it’s a simple question of rearranging existing pictures to show them – and the rooms – to greater advantage.

A stretched canvas being installed by us.. it now adds a focal point at the top of the stairs!

It goes without saying that what art you do have on your walls should be in good condition, and properly displayed (no dingy glass or tatty mouldings or mount boards, please) and hung correctly. And, most emphatically, straight and square! If you do decide your favourite controversial art needs to take cover for a bit, do re-finish the wall space so there are no dodgy picture hooks or holes in sight.

Of course we are happy to tidy up any existing art you have, and can even offer advice on how and where to hang it. Sometimes small changes will give your property the right feel to viewers; freshening a tired picture can give a wall an instant ‘lift’ and just might make the difference between the person looking at your house thinking “Blimey, I wouldn’t give that house room” to “I can see myself living here.”

Tilly