The vendor had had this house on the market with local agents for nine months. It was attracting little interest, and the only hint of an offer was at £2.6m. She asked Blackman Investments to get involved and advise her. The property had been tenanted and looked bare and soulless. The carpet was also old and tired. It looked neglected.

Our advice was to let us do the following work:

• Replace the white gloss tiles on the Ground Floor with a much warmer wood floor

• Make good the walls and repaint throughout

• Stage the lounge, the patio garden, and 3 of the five bedrooms with beautiful furniture and elegant bedding

• Add real plants to the patio garden

• Market the property at £2.85m

The total cost to the client to undertake all of the above was £30,000.

Outcome: We received an asking price offer of £2.85m within 4 weeks and the sale completed 6 weeks thereafter.

Added value by Blackman Investments: £220,000.

Sold September 2024.