Well, I have a ton of properties listed (ok not a TON but several). Of the vacant ones, I normally do minimal "staging" - for bath and kitchen, greenery, a touch of color, perhaps a small picture of a house in colors that go with the home's decor, nice, white towels wrapped in wired ribbon for stability. If there is a dining table (or if a folding table will do), a tablecloth, placemats, nice coffee cups, napkins and cute or snazzy or sporty snack-size paper plates - perfect for after-school or a cinnamon bun before heading off to work.
Candles (not burning!) also, for scent. Or, if I am in the frame of mind to mess with sometimes-messy potpourri, I put some of that out on a nice gold charger with a candle or two in the middle.
Sometimes curtain/window treatment that is unobtrusive but softens the hard edges.
However, it is vacant properties that have no furnishings and aren't about to have that can be problematic. I don't budget currently for a full staging (nor do the clients); so it's bath, dining and kitchen that get the attention.
I have found some success with this - people think it's cute or it gives the impression of family where otherwise it would be just a plain, blahh home.
Are these Secrets that I am giving away? Oh, not really. We've all seen the information on Staging online or on TV that shows it helps in selling a home. In a particular price range, I'm thinking minimal staging will work (and have seen it work too). I'm all for Staging but when the client refuses a full Staging experience, the treatment I give the home makes a difference.
What do you do (or what does your client do) to prepare the home if they don't really know what to do when it is without furnishings?
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