From Overlooked to Overjoyed
How a Cottage Sold in Two Months After a Year on the Market
One of my clients had his cottage on the market for a year without much interest. Hardly any viewings, no real momentum. After a while, he began to feel that there was nothing more he could do. It’s a feeling many of us can relate to. That quiet resignation that sets in when something doesn’t go our way.
But more often than not, the solution isn’t giving up, it’s looking at things from a new angle.
However, the problem wasn't the cottage, but how its charm came across online. The listing photos simply weren't doing it justice. We implemented a few small, low cost tweaks: strategic decluttering, subtle decor changes, and adjustments to maximise the light, making the rooms feel instantly brighter.
After re listing with new photos, the cottage sold within two months.
No major expense, no renovations, just thoughtful refinements that changed the way buyers perceived it.
It’s a reminder that selling a home doesn’t always require dramatic changes or a big budget. Sometimes, the smallest shifts can unlock the biggest results and it’s always worth trying before writing things off.
The Art of the First Impression
The room that stood out most to me when analysing the property listing was the spare room. Some people are fortunate enough to use a spare room purely for storage, and while that can be practical, it doesn’t always translate well in a listing. Potential buyers can’t easily gauge the size of the room or imagine how it might be used.
Clutter doesn’t just make a room look smaller. It also changes the feel of a space. When people see a room crammed with stuff, their minds jump to all sorts of conclusions: is the property looked after? Is it clean? Will it feel cramped? None of that might be true but visually, clutter creates a sense of chaos, and chaos can be interpreted as neglect. It’s an emotional reaction, not a rational one, and it happens in seconds.
That’s why the way you present each room online is so powerful. One picture can make someone click into the listing or scroll straight past it. People are often browsing dozens of properties at once, and they’re making snap judgments based purely on what they see in those first few photos. If a room looks uninviting or hard to read, they won’t stop to consider the potential. They’ll just move on.
This particular room had so much potential. It had a lovely window with views of the countryside, which was barely noticeable in the original listing photo. The first step was to decide what the room could be. We cleared the clutter and introduced a simple, functional layout to create a home office. It didn’t take much, just a few key pieces to spark the imagination.
The difference was immediate. Suddenly, you could see the room’s size, the natural light, and that peaceful view. Instead of being written off as “the junk room,” it became a space with a clear purpose. And when people see that in a listing, it gets them thinking: I could work there. I’d enjoy that view. That would really suit me.
It’s a small change, but it shifts the entire perception of the property.
Creating a Sanctuary
The master bedroom should be a sanctuary, and with just a few small changes, we made this one stand out. Our focus was on creating a feeling of space and luxurious comfort. First, we repositioned the bed to a different wall. This simple layout change instantly enhanced the sense of space and improved the flow of the room. Buyers respond positively to spaces that feel open and well proportioned.
Next, we swapped out the old bedding for plush, crisp linens. This is a powerful, low cost trick that creates an aspirational "hotel feel," allowing potential buyers to imagine a peaceful and restful night's sleep in their new home. As you can see from the photos, the effect is immediate.
Pro Tip: To add extra warmth and define the sleeping area, place a large rug under the bed. For a balanced and luxurious look, always ensure the rug is wider than the bed frame on both sides.
The Psychology of a Welcoming Kitchen
It was already a fantastic space. Beautifully maintained and perfectly in keeping with the cosy English cottage aesthetic. The “before” photo wasn’t bad at all, but when you’re selling, “not bad” simply isn’t enough.
This is where human psychology comes into play: our eyes are naturally drawn to visual noise. Even though the kitchen wasn’t messy, the clutter distracted from its best features.By removing those distractions, the real star of the room, the kitchen itself, finally took centre stage in the photos.
The second tweak was even simpler: we switched on all the lights. It’s such an easy fix, but the difference is huge. With the room brighter and free from clutter, the space became more inviting and easier for buyers to imagine themselves in. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a kitchen in a listing photo but a place where you could picture yourself making breakfast on a sunny morning, looking out of the window and feeling right at home.
The Zero Cost Makeover
Sometimes, the most impactful changes are the ones that don't cost a penny. This living room already had a star feature: a beautiful fireplace, the heart of the cottage. Our entire strategy was focused on making it shine.
As you can see in the "before" picture, the fireplace was unlit. In the "after" shot, by simply lighting the fire, switching on the lamps, and shooting from a better angle, the room is instantly stands out more. It goes from being just a room to being a warm, cozy sanctuary. A feeling that buyers can connect with emotionally.
The second change was more subtle. We removed a set of weights from the corner. It seems like a minor detail, but every item in a photo tells a story. Personal items, like fitness equipment, can create a subconscious picture of the currentowner's lifestyle.
A potential buyer, perhaps a young couple, needs to be able to imagine their own story in the space. In the split second they view your listing online, you want them to feel a connection, not a disconnect. By removing these items, we create a neutral, welcoming environment for the widest possible audience.
In a competitive market with thousands of listings, these tiny signals matter. They can be the difference between a buyer scrolling past or stopping to book a viewing.
