Vacant Homes Can Benefit From Staging

I have written two staging stories you can read here and here.  As popular as Home Staging has become in today's real estate market, I can't believe the majority of sellers in my area that either haven't heard the term or just don't think it will make a difference in their property.

I have shown more vacant homes than ever in the past few years.  When I first started in the business in the '80's, there were few vacant homes to show.  And if they were, it was an estate sale or a job transfer.  Today, there are many "flipped" homes that sit vacant (you can usually spot these investment properties pretty quickly) and homes that sit vacant for many other reasons.  Even I ponder how average people can afford having a home sit vacant if it's not an estate sale or being handled by a relocation company.

Many people think a vacant property should make rooms appear larger than if there were furniture in them.  That isn't true, in my opinion.  Even in my own homes, once furniture was removed in a couple smaller rooms, I couldn't believe I was even able to fit the furniture I had in them.

Well placed furnishings can actually make a room appear larger as the furnishings give a room depth.  Placing furniture also conveys the use of a room and gives buyers an idea of how they could furnish the home.  Of course, too much furniture and clutter has the opposite effect.

But a nicely staged home can really help a home show at its best.  For instance, sometimes I attempt to take a photo of a vacant room.  Most times I don't even put them up on the MLS or my websites because the photo doesn't look like anything.  You can't see the true size of the room nor what kind of room it really is.

What is a nicely staged home?

Of course, the first step is that walls and floors should be clean.  Walls might need to be painted a neutral, warm color.  Carpets need to be cleaned or replaced.  Hardwood floors or vinyl/tile should be in good condition.  During selling time, floors need to be kept clean and vacuumed.

A living room should have one couch and maybe a loveseat or a chair.  Add a lamp table and a coffee table and that is really all you need.  Although I like the addition of live plants, don't do it unless you can water them regularly.  I recently went into a home where all the plants were dead and brown and horrible looking.  Artwork can also add depth but maybe only one piece and you do have to be careful with the selection. 

The kitchen and/or formal dining room just needs a table and chairs if there's a space for it.  Personally, I feel tables that are "set" with place settings is going overboard.  Do you actually keep your table set 24/7?  And although I use a cute tablecloth at home most times (to protect my table) I don't think they look good in staged homes.  Just a clean table top with maybe a nice, simple centerpiece (such as a large, artful bowl) should suffice. 

A family room should be shown with similar furnishings as the formal living room.  You can omit televisions in all rooms.  If you have 3 bedrooms it's best to showcase them as bedrooms instead of using one as a den and/or office.  You don't need full bedroom sets in each bedroom but at the least a side table and lamp in smaller bedrooms and maybe one dresser in the largest.  If you have a bonus room you might want to show it off as an office with a simple desk and maybe a cabinet.

Kitchens and bathrooms need to be kept clean and shiny.  Countertops can get dusty and dirty and sinks need to be kept clean as buyers will run the water.  Same with bathtubs and showers.  And I can't tell you how many dirty toliets I see where it's obvious no one has come around to clean them.

Where do you get rental furniture?  It truly might be worth the fee at a local furniture rental place.  Professional home stagers should be able to offer furniture to rent and will help with placement. 

Furnishings offer warmth and can create an inviting home versus a cold feeling, vacant property.  Many buyers I've worked with feel that an empty home must belong to desperate sellers and are more likely to make a lowball offer.  Investing in home staging could pay off by a quicker sale and higher offers.

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