Admin

Warm and cozy vacant homes? Not so much.

By
Home Stager with Smart Move Design Home Staging and Redesign

home staging vacant room

There are quite a few vacant homes out there that if staged, would sell faster and for more money. I am not talking about just furniture placement in the home either.  Staging involves the designer providing appropriate bedding, drapes, wall hangings, floor coverings, and accessorizing to give the home a look that connects with potential buyers.  Home sellers often don't want to put any more money into a home they have already left, but making an investment in staging a vacant hom can have a big payoff. More money in their pocket and less time on the market!

Here are the Top 5 reasons a vacant home should be staged. (from Home Staging Resource)

 5.  Without furniture there is no frame of reference.

How big is the room? Without furniture it's incredibly difficult to tell the scale and size of a room. When the buyer does not have answers to their questions-they walk away. What is this room for? Many times a buyer can't even tell if it's the living room or dining room in an unfurnished home. Don't keep them guessing, because it only distracts them from considering the home as a purchase.Can you imagine a brand new Mercedes without a paint job? Do you think people would notice the beautiful car or the missing paint? It's so much easier to notice that crack in the wall, or the chip in the tile when there is nothing else to look at. Home Staging capitalizes on the positive aspects of a home, while de-emphasizing negative aspects in order to position a home that will make an emotional connection with buyers.

3. Only 10% of buyers can visulize the potential of a vacant home.

Nine out of every ten people walking in your home have no imagination of the wonderful possibilities your home has to offer them. They just can't picture it. Don't let a simple thing like no furniture or limited furniture ruin your sale. Don't take those odds; they will hurt you in the price significantly!

2.  People don't buy houses, they buy homes.

The number one reason a buyer purchases a home is because it "felt like home." It was warm, inviting and the buyer made an emotional connection with the home. When have you ever heard of an empty room described as warm and inviting? Sterile, cold and uninviting are the three most popular words to describe an empty room.

vacant home staging

1. Vacancy Rate is at an all time high.

According to the Census Bureau the vacancy rate of homes is at the highest level they have ever seen since they started tracking it 40 years ago! Your home needs to differentiate from all the empty homes on the market that will continue to stay there without considerable price decreases.

Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, RealtorĀ® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate
Lisa - I agree with you about staging and this is an excellent post!
Mar 30, 2008 03:35 AM
Royal Goodman
Royalty Home Solutions - Madera, CA
"We Treat You Like a King"
Lisa. That was some goof thoughts. I agree with you. What a difference staging makes. I always thought it was suppose to make the clients feel "This is nice. Honey, can you see us living here. I can see myself sitting in that chair reading the paper on Sunday morning." Thanks for the post, Royal..
Mar 30, 2008 03:43 AM
Troia Team
Coldwell Banker - Boulder, CO

I agree, staging a vacant home makes a huge difference and will generally get the home sold twice as fast as being vacant.   If home owners cannot afford a professional stager than if they can leave some furniture in the home until it sells or goes under/contract.   I suggest leaving furniture in the main parts of the home and omitting the bedrooms.

Mar 30, 2008 03:48 AM
Lisa Ryan
Smart Move Design Home Staging and Redesign - Syracuse, NY
Lisa Ryan

Thanks Sharon.

 Royal, that is exactly it.  A buyer makes that emotional connection and voila! a potential offer.

Troia Team, I agree, some furniture is better than none if it is staged right. Especially if it is a fairly new home.  With an older home you run the risk of noticing flaws (even in the bedrooms).

Thanks for your comments.

Mar 30, 2008 03:58 AM