Cathy- For me, the answer would be, it depends.  If the sellers are just going to leave a table in the room or s sofa against the wall, then no it's better to leave the home empty.

While I do think this depends, there are several things above that I would give a different perspective on.

First, having some furniture (but not too much and not too little) actually makes the space look LARGER not smaller.  with it, your eye can picture the space; without, you have no context and usually the space looks smaller.  I have seen this many times w/ and wo/ furniture in the same spaces where I've seen it before the sellers moved their furniture.

The part about depersonalizing is all very true, and often if the furniture is ugly, dated or very taste specific, it's prob. better to remove it than leave it.

Regarding risk of damage or any of that stuff, in all the myriads of articles I have read about staging, not once have I heard this as an issue.

I have only had a few of my listings professionally staged.                                                     

Hi Cathy, I sometimes do stage homes in my design work but I must admit that for the most part, it is better to get most things out of the house and show a home without any furniture, if you are moving before the house goes on the market.  However, when there is a confusing or open floor plan, a few pieces do go a long way-especially when a room is small and you need to show that it is not wasted space.

Thanks Cathy Roesch 

Debbie Gartner summed it up very well in my opinion.  Empty rooms will appear smaller than furnished rooms.  Empty rooms will show more negative aspects of the room.  There is nothing else in the room to look at, so you are more likely to notice defects in paint or flooring....worn or dirty areas of carpeting, etc.  

I've never heard of removing large items to prevent damage during a move.

Best case scenerio is presenting an emotionally and visually appealing home, that looks well maintained and cared for.  If the existing furnishings don't do the job, it's best to remove them.

Staging can be anything from decluttering to bringing in a full room of furniture...it's about creating a pleasant environment and that's always worth it. 

Oh yes, Sharon Tara is so right that if there is no furniture, you notice issues w/ floors and walls much more easily.

Hi Cathy: An illusion of larger space could be created by less furniture and furnishings. I always tell the sellers to de-clutter and minimize personal properties as much as possible.

Cathy~ I'm going to say it depends too. I have found that having furniture for photos is a benefit, because it really helps to show the size of the room. I would most often vote for staging, but it does depend.

Cathy, I see potential buyers walk into homes and if there is nothing in it they may not even step into a room but lean in and do a quick scan. Having furnishings staged to suggest a lifestyle in that home can give people pause and they start seeing themselves suddenly sitting at the desk writing or entertaining friends at the wet bar that has wine and glasses. The longer they stay, the more they are considering this home as a contender in their top selects. Empty homes just can't create the dream...in my humble opinion.

I'm with Kathy Streib , if they're leaving a couple items, they're not really doing the home any favors. If we're talking a complete living room set in decent condition and it's the right size, then it could really benefit how the home shows.

I'ver heard benefits to both an empty house, and a staged house. I prefer staged myself, but it does depend on how much furniture, and whether the furniture actually enhances the home or looks out of place.