2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards

46 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2021 Best Bespoke Home Staging Interior Founder (UK): Elaine Penhaul ased in Derbyshire, award-winning property business, Lemon & Lime Interiors, specialise in staging properties for the premium housing market nationally. The company, founded in 2015, offers a variety of services including decluttering, decorating, virtual staging and refurnishing. Tailoring each project individually, Lemon & Lime work with vendors via estate agents such as Knight Frank and Savills. In fact, they were the first staging business in the UK to enter into a formal agreement with a premium national estate agent, Fine and Country. According to Lemon & Lime, their staged homes sell, on average, 4 times faster than comparable “unstaged” properties, and many sell for above the asking price. The importance of tracking the ROI of home staging can’t be overstated. It’s useful not only to track individual projects but also to prove the value of staging as a whole. Founder and Director of Lemon & Lime, Elaine Penhaul, has a background in mathematics. She soon identified the need to collect and collate data on the industry and over time developed the first worldwide app to evidence ROI on staging, B Stageflow. The web-based application provides estate agents, property developers and home stagers with essential data collection and reporting tools for a monthly subscription fee. As one of the pioneers of home staging in the UK, Elaine is also passionate about passing on her knowledge and providing high- quality training to the industry. In 2020, Elaine’s first book, “Sell High, Sell Fast” was published. The book is not aimed solely at industry professionals. Instead, it aims to guide anyone wishing to sell a property through a 7-step process to get any home ready for sale. The book was an instant hit, reaching number 1 on the Amazon bestseller list and firmly establishing Elaine as a thought leader within the industry. The Home Staging Association (HSA) is the industry body for home staging. Elaine currently sits on the board. She worked closely with the founder, Paloma Harrington-Griffin, on the launch of the UK’s first accredited home staging training courses. And she continues to work with the HSA as it seeks to gain recognition from the national qualifying body. Not only recognised here in the UK for its contribution to the home staging industry, Lemon & Lime recently received recognition on the international stage. The company was the only UK business to win an international award at the StagerCon conference. Elaine was also awarded the Industry Leadership Award for 2021 by the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP). In the beginning, it was difficult to get estate agents to see the value in home staging. But thanks to her sheer energy, enthusiasm and belief in the industry, Elaine is helping to drive the credibility of home staging forward. With the property business in a constant state of change, Elaine and her team at Lemon & Lime remain at the forefront of home staging, committed to guiding vendors through the process of getting their homes ready for sale. Outside of her business, Elaine is passionate about community engagement and local investment. Being a sailor herself, Elaine supports the RYA Sailability branch of her local sailing club. The programme encourages those with disabilities to take part in boating activities. As a business, Lemon & Lime supports many community initiatives, including the renowned Melbourne Arts Festival. When deciding to sell your home, how can you ensure that it appeals to as many potential buyers as possible? The answer is home staging. Making your home as welcoming and attractive to viewers as possible is the remit of home staging expert Elaine Penhaul and her company Lemon & Lime Interiors. Jul21335 Contact: Holly Hill Company: Lemon & Lime Interiors Web Address: www.lemonandlimeinteriors.co.uk