Meet The Locals: Jackie Zulliger, Surfcoast Property Stylist

Jackie Zulliger owns Surfcoast Property Stylist and she’s someone I frequently work with when I’m listing a property for sale.

Talented, friendly, and sophisticated, Jackie and her team offer a real advantage to sellers when it comes to maximising their property’s appeal to buyers.

Jackie also styles properties for leasing through AirBnB and offers interior design services.

Jackie balances running a growing business with raising a growing family here on the Surf Coast in Torquay. We recently had a chat about her work, what she loves about the Surf Coast, and how styling truly adds value to a property sale.

Jackie, we originally met doing styling consults for vendors about to sell, and we’ve worked together for many years now. How long have you lived on the Surf Coast?

I was originally from the Philippines before moving to Melbourne in 2000 to study. I’ve enjoyed calling the Surf Coast home since 2008.

How did you get into property styling?

I studied interior design at RMIT, but you could say design is in my blood. My mum was a fashion designer and my dad worked in the family firm, a furniture design company.

What do you enjoy about it?

Interior design is designing for living, with care for what’s functional and practical. And while my business, Surfcoast Property Stylist, offers that service, I’d always gravitated to visual merchandising, where you’re telling a story, inspiring people and showcasing a lifestyle. That’s integral to property styling, and part of what really drew me to being a stylist.

Tell me about your business?

I am the creative director, so I develop the overall aesthetic of the properties we style. I have an amazing styling team and work together on a range of projects – from interior design to property styling.

The original idea for the business was born in 2010, when my partner and I sold our first home in Jan Juc. It had been on the market for a month with no interest whatsoever. So we took it off the market, redid the paint, staged it, made it look great, and it sold in three days. That was my lightbulb moment – when I realised what property styling could do for a property. When we were selling our second home, the real estate agent we used told me I should do styling for a living. And that’s when it was born – in 2016. I had been busy being a mum, but after my second child started school I had some time to follow this passion and set up Surfcoast Property Stylist.

You know I’m a big believer in property styling. I can absolutely see the results in what you do for my vendors and that it’s well worth the investment in time and energy. But what do you think property styling adds to a sale?

We’ve had so many properties we have styled go on to auction and achieve prices that were over their reserves by a crazy amount. It definitely adds value and appeal, but it’s hard to quantify. It’s not just about bringing in furniture. We see how we can maximise and add value to each space so a buyer is not just looking at the size of the room but the lifestyle and the dream. Essentially, we showcase the Surf Coast lifestyle in the home’s spaces. I think that is what drives the results. People want to buy the dream. For example, through Covid, we were creating home office spaces to show buyers they could work from here. Little things like that provide good results.

What, in your opinion, is the quintessential Surf Coast style?

Relaxed, beachy and inspired by our surroundings on the coast. When we style, we bring in materials like wood, natural fibers, greenery, shells and greenery to freshen up the space and bring the outdoors in.

Do trends and changing fashions impact property styling?

Absolutely, we need to keep up with trends, and we update our pieces all the time because if things look outdated, they can bring down a property. That said, our pieces are not ultra-trendy; we aim for timeless and classic to stand the test of time and offer flexibility. We update them using art, greenery, and decorative items and accessories. We do full-styling or part-stylings supplementing client pieces and adding where we need to.

What are the top property styling mistakes you see?

When people style for sale, one of the major issues is having too much personal stuff around, like photographs or mementos. Buyers need to go in and imagine themselves living in it. If it’s too personal, it can distract buyers and put some of the buyers off. They are too busy looking at the “things” and not connecting to the property or envisaging their life there. Too much clutter is another one. Less is more when getting it ready to sell. Especially when you’re living in the home you’re selling – you need to declutter and simplify all the spaces so it feels calming and not too busy. When it’s your home, and you’re naturally houseproud, it’s often hard to part from your personal possessions. I always tell vendors to think of it as if it’s no longer their home. It can be very challenging, but you have to think about it as the buyer’s home – you’ve decided to sell it, so it needs to be market ready and a product.

Any easy styling tips if you’re getting ready to sell?

Firstly, adding greenery is always a great way to freshen up your home. Secondly, iron the beds, doonas and pillows, so they look neat in photos. And third is decluttering. They’re my top three tips!

What do you enjoy about living and working on the Surf Coast?

I really like the specialty cafes and shops we have here. There’s a great sense of community too which I really love. Everyone helps each other out, and that extends to local businesses. Working with you, Robyn, and other agents, we all help each other out.

What have you seen change in the time you’ve lived here?

When I moved down here, the Surf Coast Highway was all farmland. And, in Jan Juc, a lot of the houses were original beach shacks. Now, with the new estates, there are lots of amazing new builds and it is so great to see that many new families now call the Surf Coast their home.

Thanks for chatting Jackie! We love the property styling you and your team have done for us. Check out the amazing before and after styling pics on Jackie’s website at surfcoastpropertystylist.com.au. Or follow Surfcoast Property Stylist on Instagram for styling ideas for your Surf Coast property.

Want more?

Are you thinking about making a property move here on the Surf Coast? Get in touch with me today.

Photo credit: SurfCoast Property Stylist website