A large family home in an idyllic setting, just a stone’s throw from Cambridge city centre – it sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Yet no one wanted to buy this house for a fair price.

“We’d had 36 viewings for our family home of 27 years – people wanted a house like ours, but were put off when they arrived by the apparent scale of the project before them.”

When the owners contacted me, they had already bought their next home and were keen to move on. After an unsuccessful period on the market, they knew it was time to rethink their approach.

Like many clients, they’d never heard of home staging. A chance conversation with their carpenter led them to me. After a Teams call—where I explained my process and shared examples—they felt confident they were heading in the right direction. And so, we began.

Property Visit / Home Staging Action Plan

For a lived-in home, an action plan is the ideal starting point. Together, we walked through each room, discussing the purpose of every space and identifying what needed to change. My aim is always the same: do just enough to achieve the desired outcome to sell the home, without unnecessary work.

What kind of changes make the difference?

Furniture layout: simply rethinking where things sit can completely transform a room.
Colour: bold colours aren’t always wrong, but balance is key.
Small tweaks, big impact: often the simplest changes matter most.

Ultimately, I want buyers to appreciate the home itself—not be distracted by things that stand out for the wrong reasons.

With the plan in place, the owners got to work. I visited periodically to check progress and guide the next steps.

“Relying on Lorna removed all the stress of deciding how to change things and did much to preserve domestic harmony! We followed her advice to the letter in terms of decluttering and getting rid of some strong colours – she was very mindful of budget.”

Because the owners were splitting their time between both properties, the house still needed to feel comfortable and liveable. I filled furniture gaps with hired pieces—practical, fresh, and usable. I staged empty rooms with my own accessories and used their belongings in lived-in spaces. Keeping the styling simple ensured the home felt warm, welcoming, and easy to live in.

Buyers respond to how a property feels. They want to imagine themselves living there comfortably.

“We left her in the house for the staging and photographs – the result was transformative!”

The Big Changes

This home underwent a significant transformation—because it needed it. Redecoration and new flooring completely lifted the space. Big changes should always be considered carefully; they aren’t always necessary, but the right investment pays off through shorter time on the market, more viewings, and stronger offers.

The Balance of Selling a House

There are usually two paths:

Instruct an agent immediately, wait and wait, grow frustrated, and eventually feel pressured to drastically drop the price.
Make a plan first. Invest time and money preparing the property before it goes to market—leading to more interest, more viewings, better offers, and choice.

This time, viewers could finally see themselves moving straight in. The owners received two competing offers and sold for over the asking price.

“This time the many viewers felt they could buy the house and move straight in! We had two bidders and sold for over the asking price. Thank you Lorna for enabling us to move on!”

In 2025, I’ve worked on several homes like this.
At our first meeting, clients often feel stuck and discouraged. They know the value of their home but can’t get buyers on side. Once the work begins, the mood shifts—things start to feel manageable, even exciting. By the time staging day arrives, everyone is buzzing around the house, ready for the next chapter.

I’m here to guide that journey—supporting decisions, offering clarity, and helping homeowners feel confident every step of the way.

Do you need help preparing your home for the market? Let’s get started.

Contact Me