I left school aged 16 after bullies broke me and quit uni – now I make £1.5MILLION & you can too if you’re clever at B&M
A YOUNG entrepreneur has revealed how she left school at 16 to launch her business which now turns over £1.5million a year.
Liv Conlon, 25, rakes in millions from running two seven-figure businesses, staging properties and teaching women how to do the same.
Aged just 16, Liv, who grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, decided to leave school, where she was badly bullied, to launch a property staging business – against the advice of her teachers.
Working with her mum, Ali, the pair found a gap in the property market after struggling to sell a house they’d bought at an auction.
An estate agent suggested they drop the asking price, but Liv instead suggested staging.
Home staging is a popular US trend that viewers of the reality TV show Selling Sunset are likely to be familiar with.
Once Liv had decorated the house with furniture and accessories the house sold within three days for above the asking price.
Business has always come easy to the single mum who made £5,000 aged just 13 by importing goods from China and selling them online.
However, no one would take Liv seriously when she tried networking with other business-minded people, she claimed.
Determined to prove them wrong, Liv worked tirelessly and by 2017 her business. “ThePropertyStages” was turning over £1million.
The following years saw her expand the business by hiring a team, including her mum.
She also started a coaching scheme, where Liv helped women launch and scale their own property staging branch.
Liv was crowned The UK Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2019 and now runs both companies from her apartment in Marbella, Spain.
Fast-forward to today, her company has helped stage and sell 2,500 properties across the UK making millions a year.
Her coaching scheme alone turned over £100,000 in January.
Six Days
The now expert property stager has revealed how she once sold a house that was on the market for two years with no offers in just six days.
Liv and her team were hired by the desperate owner on January 30.
They spent four hours staging the property and added a dining area, beds, fancy rugs, mirrors and stylish artwork to show how the rooms could be used.
A furnished room looks bigger than an empty room
Liv Conlon
With new photos for the three-bedroom property in Barnstaple, Devon, estate agents then arranged three viewings just days later, and three offers were made with one accepted on February 5.
When it comes to selling a home, it’s all about sticking to neutral tones, clearing clutter and adding pops of colour, texture and pattern with soft furnishings, according to Liv.
The entrepreneur added: “Multiple people had viewed this property when it was on the market before but there was no interest – it had been on the market for two years with no offers, and the owner was starting to pull out his hair.
“Once it had been staged, three people made an offer in just a few days.”
“It sold so quickly once we had got our hands on it and staged it because a furnished room looks bigger than an empty room.
“People can’t envisage how they are going to live in a property when it’s empty, so we furnish it to make the most of the space, highlight key features and show potential buyers what their life in the house could look like.”
The bungalow features an open-plan kitchen area.
So Liv’s team added a chic dining area with a stylish glass-top table and grey chairs on top of a grey fluffy rug to highlight how the space could be used.
ThePropertyStagers then furnished the living room with plush, navy sofas and added a pop of brightness with yellow accessories.
They placed a glass coffee table on top of a mustard-coloured rug and added depth to the room with modern artwork, carefully placed magazines and plants.
In the main room, ThePropertyStagers’ team added a double bed and side table.
While another room was staged to be a single bedroom with a bed, lamp and side table.
Staging a property sale is very different to how people live at home, says Liv.
“There’s no television in the living room, there are no wardrobes in the bedrooms and what’s key is that there is no clutter,” she added.
Liv explained: “Instead, everything is placed to perfection.
“We use our expertise to make the most of the space and create a ‘flow’ around the home to highlight particular features.”
The team at ThePropertyStagers, which has won 13 awards nationally and internationally, uses props including artwork and accessories to make houses more appealing.
Liv revealed that the secret to staging is “trying to appeal to the largest audience possible”.
She added: “The seller hired us for six weeks paying £2,497+VAT, and staging the property took just four hours.
“But the property sold in six days so our job was done.”
How to sell a house
To sell a home in today’s market, the furnishings need to stand out and catch a potential buyer’s attention, said Liv.
“There are so many empty properties on the market, so you need to try and stop potential buyers from passing by your property when scrolling online,” she added.
“If you are not hiring the services of a professional stager you can declutter and remove as many personal items as possible.
“You want the property to appeal to as many buyers as possible and you want them to imagine living in the property themselves.
“Keep colours as neutral as possible on walls and large items of furniture then build colour, texture and pattern through accents like soft furnishings and artwork.”
The main reason why a property struggles to sell is when they’re empty people cannot see how they are going to live in the home, Liv claims.
it’s why house builders also use showhomes to show the potential of the space to prospective buyers.
She said: “It’s why the house builders have showhomes – they are selling a lifestyle.
“For example, by putting a table and a couple of chairs by a window, the potential client can then imagine themselves sitting there having their morning coffee.”
Liv’s top tips for selling your house
- Declutter
Clear out any unnecessary items to create a sense of space and make rooms appear larger.
This includes removing personal items like family photos and excessive decorations.
- Add mood lighting
Ensure all overhead lights are switched off, opt for table and floor lamps to remove any harshness and create an inviting atmosphere.
- Maximise natural light
Open curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. Bright, well-lit spaces feel more inviting and spacious.
- Arrange furniture strategically
Create a layout that highlights the functionality of each room and allows for easy traffic flow. Avoid blocking natural pathways and ensure furniture is appropriately sized for the space.
- Add rugs
A rug instantly removes any feeling of coldness or emptiness in a home.
Opt for a bright-coloured rug to instantly add warmth to any room.
- Add mirrors
Mirrors can make rooms appear larger and brighter by reflecting light and creating the illusion of depth.
- Accessorize thoughtfully
Add tasteful decor elements such as cushions, rugs, and artwork to enhance the visual appeal of each room.
However, be mindful not to overcrowd the space.
- Enhance curb appeal
First impressions matter.
Make sure the exterior of your property is well-maintained by trimming the lawn, planting flowers, and cleaning up any clutter.
- Highlight key features
Draw attention to unique selling points such as architectural details, views, or upgraded appliances.
Make sure these features are prominently displayed and not overshadowed by clutter.
- Create a welcoming atmosphere
Consider adding fresh flowers, a bowl of fruit, or a scented candle to create a warm and inviting ambience that will make potential buyers feel at home.