Rafał Radomski
November 21, 2025
Home staging in Gdynia: why does professional flat preparation increase the price by up to 5-12%?
Growing role of home staging on the real estate market in Gdynia
The property market in Gdynia has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. Buyers today are much better prepared, use market analyses, compare offers carefully and increasingly expect a standard that will allow them to make a decision without unnecessary doubts. As a result, location or square footage alone are no longer the only factors determining the level of interest. It is becoming more and more important how a flat is presented: both in photographs and during the presentation itself.
In such realities, home staging, i.e. professional preparation of a property for sale, ceases to be an optional activity. Instead, it is becoming one of the key tools used by a modern real estate agency in Gdynia to increase the competitiveness of an offer. It is worth emphasising that it is not about spectacular metamorphoses or costly alterations, but about precise actions based on the psychology of interior perception, sales strategy and analysis of what buyers really pay attention to.
In practice a well-conducted home staging allows:
- raise the visual assessment of the flat already at the thumbnail photo stage in the ad,
- build a competitive advantage in the first 72 hours of publication,
- limit buyers' negotiating space,
- increase the likelihood of a sale close to the starting price.
In Gdynia, the real estate market with offers is extremely broad and the decision-making speed of buyers is increasing - home staging is becoming the foundation of an effective sales strategy. Owners who overlook it often do not realise that they are giving up one of the simplest tools to increase the value of a flat by real, measurable amounts. But one step at a time.
What exactly is home staging and why does it work?
Home staging is the process of comprehensively preparing a property for sale, the aim of which is to maximise its assets and build a coherent, professional image of the offer. It is not decorating according to the subjective taste of the owner, nor is it carrying out an expensive renovation. Home staging is based on knowledge of the psychology of space perception, interior design, visual marketing and analyses of buyer behaviour.
Professionally prepared property:
- presents itself as larger, brighter and more structured,
- gives the impression of being well maintained, which increases buyer confidence,
- allows the viewer to focus on the functionality of the home rather than on distracting elements,
- creates an impression of so-called „ready to move in”, which reduces concerns about additional costs,
- reinforces the perception that the property has a higher value relative to competing offers.
In practice, home staging works because buyers make decisions based not only on technical data, but primarily on emotions and first impressions. An aesthetically prepared interior attracts more clicks on the ad, generates more presentations and improves the negotiating position of the seller already at the start of the process. This is why good real estate agencies treat home staging as part of their sales strategy and not as a cosmetic add-on.
Impact of housing preparation on price - real figures and percentage ranges
An analysis of secondary market transactions in Gdynia and the experience of professional real estate agencies indicate that a properly prepared flat can be sold for a price higher by 5-12% compared to a property presented in an „unprepared” state. This increase is not due to cosmetic changes, but to the real impact of home staging on the way buyers perceive the value of an offer.
The price increase is primarily a result of:
• higher quality of first visual contact - professional photos significantly increase the number of clicks and viewing time of an ad,
• more live presentations - aesthetically pleasing interiors are quicker to attract buyers who would previously have rejected an offer after seeing photos,
• reduced negotiating space - well-maintained and well-presented flats are less likely to be the target of aggressive attempts to lower the price,
• improved perception of technical status - The aesthetics of the interior often influence the overall assessment of the quality of the dwelling and reduce concerns about hidden costs.
At the same time, it is worth emphasising that basic home staging does not require a large financial outlay. In many cases, the costs of preparing a flat - which include tidying up the space, introducing simple textiles and decorations and a professional photo session - are within the amount of several hundred zlotys. This makes home staging one of the most cost-effective activities to increase the value of a flat before sale.
Case study: 52 m² flat in Gdynia - how we increased the value of the offer without a general refurbishment
Preparing a flat for sale does not have to involve a lot of money. In many cases, the key is the proper arrangement of the space, the correction of the arrangement and a professional photographic presentation. The following case study shows how precisely planned home staging allowed to significantly increase interest in the offer and raise the final selling price, without carrying out expensive renovation work.
Initial state
The flat was in a good state of repair, but its visual presentation worked against the offer. The interior seemed heavy and dark due to massive furniture, dim curtains and lack of order. The arrangement did not emphasise the functionality of the space, and the photos taken by the owner himself did not reflect the real potential of the premises. The result? Only nine enquiries in four weeks
Scope of work carried out
A set of measures with high visual impact but low cost was implemented in a single day:
- the interior was tidied up and unnecessary items removed,
- Lighter textiles were introduced, visually warming the space,
- the curtains were replaced with light and neutral ones,
- aesthetically pleasing, low-budget decorations (flowers, candles, small accessories) were added,
- furniture was rearranged to expose the space and improve the proportions of the living room,
- a professional photographic session and a short video were produced.
The entire preparation cost around £650.
Final result
After implementing home staging and republishing the ad, the effects were immediate:
- The number of enquiries rose to 42 in the first 10 days,
- there were 17 presentations in a short space of time,
- the flat was sold by PLN 29,000 more than originally envisaged.
This example shows that the right interior presentation can dramatically change the perception of a property and realistically increase its value - without investing in costly renovation work.
Buyer psychology in a nutshell - why do aesthetics influence the decision?
Home staging is an effective process because the buyer in practice:
- they make decisions mainly based on emotions,
- assess „first impressions” faster than technical condition,
- They can more easily imagine living in a neutral space than in „someone else's” space.
A well-prepared interior in the first impression and reception gives the buyer the feeling that the flat is well maintained, functional and worth the price. This directly influences the willingness to buy. Think about it, reader - do you have that too?
What does the step-by-step home staging process look like in a professional estate agency?
In a good Gdynia real estate agency, home staging is a structured process aimed at increasing the value of an offer quickly. Each stage has an impact on how the flat will be perceived by buyers at the very first contact with the ad.
- Analysis and identification of potential
The expert assesses the layout, lighting, proportions and elements that reduce the attractiveness of the flat. On this basis, a list of the most important measures is drawn up.
- Preparation of a list of improvements
Specific tasks are identified: tidying up the space, rearranging furniture, replacing textiles, gentle refreshing. Priority is given to measures that give a quick result at minimum cost.
- Refreshing and correcting the arrangement
Small but important changes are made: neutral decorations, plants, lighter curtains or bedspreads. The aim is to optically enlarge the interior and create a consistent, neutral space.
- Professional photo and video shoots
The interior photographer takes photos and short video shots that highlight the qualities of the flat. These are the materials that practically determine the number of hits on the ad.
- Publication of an optimised advertisement
The offer goes to premium portals with a refined description and a set of visuals. At this stage, the flat is presented in the best possible form.
Table: Independent vs professional home staging
| Area | Independent home staging | Professional home staging | Effect for the seller |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property analysis | Subjective assessment of the owner | Expert assessment based on market and experience | An apt action plan to increase the attractiveness of the offer |
| Interior design | Haphazard additions, lack of consistency | Coherent, neutral arrangement emphasising the space | Better first impression and higher quality presentation |
| Photos | Photographs with a phone, no preparation | Interior photographer session + video shots | More clicks and more traffic to the ad |
| Impact on price | Often necessary price reductions | Higher offer value and less negotiating pressure | Price 5-12% higher than initial state |
| Time of sale | Extended due to low interest | Shortened by better exposure of the offer | Faster process and greater predictability |
Why you should have your home prepared by specialists?
For professional rental services or the successful sale of real estate Home staging is nowadays a key element and not an additional service „for the willing”. A professionally prepared flat builds a competitive advantage already at the level of the thumbnail in the ad, generates more traffic from buyers and shortens the time of exposure on the market. Most importantly, it has a real impact on the transaction price, allowing the value of the offer to be maintained or even increased during negotiations. It is one of the few elements of the sales process that has such a high return on investment at a relatively low cost of implementation.
This is why our real estate office in Gdynia treats home staging as an important aspect of starting a relationship. We combine local market knowledge, interior preparation experience and professional marketing tools to ensure that each property is presented in a way that maximises its sales potential.
If you want a fast, safe and profitable sale - contact our office. We will take care of the entire process from the first analysis to the finalisation of the transaction. Submit the contact form and we will prepare your flat so that it stands out in the market and attracts the right buyers from the first day of publication.
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