For those who have the space for experiments with wallpaper, such as Mr Pryor’s country house clients, he says “a little bit of William Morris goes a long way”.
“A few strips of willow pattern wallpaper can brighten the house. But room after room of the strawberry paper shouts too much about the kind of person who owns that house, and can be divisive.”
Taxidermy, of any kind
While the art of preserving animals enjoyed a gentle revival since the pandemic, it remains an unappealing prospect for many.
“It’s an absolute horror,” said Ms Penhaul. “There is an argument to say it is quite fashionable again, but it is a very specific taste.
“I don’t like bits of dead animals on the wall, and I would recommend clients to remove them as it would put off many prospective buyers
Mr Pryor agrees: “Taxidermy of any sort is generally an issue. I’m afraid it comes up quite a lot in the countryside.
“The occasional pair of antlers is okay, but as soon as you have a stuffed otter it’s not a good look.”
Overpowering smells
Flower arrangements and period fireplaces can only go so far if your house has a noticeable stench.
“If the smell hits you, it’s not a good sign,” said Ms Penhaul. “Pets, damp and cigarette smoke are the major issues.”
She recalls one client who was perplexed by the lack of interest in her attractive home.
“I told her: ‘If you didn’t smoke 60-a-day it would sell much more quickly’. It absolutely stank”.
Where urine has spilled, whether animal or human, the only way to truly remove the smell is to replace material with new.
Too much clutter and personal items
When prospective buyers are viewing a property, much of what they’ll be doing is imagining whether their belongings and lifestyle can fit into the rooms.
While a little evidence that, for example, a sofa can comfortably fit in a lounge can help them imagine their own items in situ, having too many things squeezed in each room could end up putting them off.
“There is a very fine line between presenting a lived-in space, where the buyer can imagine themselves living, and having too much clutter and personal items,” said Ms Penhaul.
“I’m not a fan of the super decluttered look, which makes the home look a bit unnatural, but you have to try to look at everything through someone else’s eyes.”
Most homes will just need some books, cushions, and throws – but not too many.
Mr Pryor warned against putting items on display that reveal “anything that gives too deep a knowledge of the owner’s personal life”. A bath in the bedroom, for example, may provide an unwelcome talking point, he said.
Rather, both recommend that homeowners aim for a balance between a property feeling too sterile and excessive personality.
It’s also a good idea to keep the circumstances of the potential buyers in mind. When selling a family home to another family, for example, keeping some toys and shoes out can allow potential buyers to better imagine themselves in the property. But it may be better to put the toys away if you have older buyers coming to look around, who could be looking for a neater space.
Reconsider the Aga
Once the ultimate icon of the middle-class kitchen, Aga’s popularity is lately on the decline – in part due to rising energy costs.
“Agas can be a big turn-off, because they are too expensive to run, but also too expensive to get rid of,” said Mr Pryor.
Many countryside homes depend on the traditional cookers for heat as well as preparing food, but their appeal may be lost on younger generations.
