Vacant Home Staging ...Why and How

A lot of people think an empty home is easier to sell. However,vacant houses typically sell slower and for less money than homes that are occupied.  There are lots of reasons why vacant homes sit on the market longer than occupied homes.  Today, I thought I'd share some of those reasons and highlight how staging can turn problems into solutions.

PROBLEM:  No furniture means no inspiration.
People don’t buy houses, they buy homes. They buy a lifestyle. When a home is stripped of furniture, wall art, rugs, lighting, and decor, there are no emotional connection points in the house. Buyers have nothing to aspire to in the home.  

BEFORE

BEFORE

STAGING SOLUTION: Give buyers something to aspire to.
That’s why it is essential to stage a home with furniture that allows the rooms to still feel spacious, but also, shows how buyers could utilize the space.

AFTER

AFTER

PROBLEM:  Empty spaces perplex buyers.

When buyers tour a vacant home they do not have a point of reference.  In addition, rooms look smaller.  So, empty spaces make it hard for buyers to understand a room's size or purpose. 

BEFORE

STAGING SOLUTION:  Give a room a sense of purpose.

Staging with simple furniture pieces and fresh, modern accessories gives buyers a point of reference and allows them to see the space with purpose.  When a room has some furniture, it also gives buyers a sense of the room's size.

AFTER

PROBLEM:  The heart of the home feels heartless 

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and therefore the heart of the sale of the home.  Kitchens show best when they are sparkling clean, free of clutter, and filled with light.

BEFORE

STAGING SOLUTION:  Warm up the kitchen

To show off this kitchen, we added bright accessories and fun art so that the kitchen could feel clean, open, and ready for moving in!

AFTER

AFTER

PROBLEM:  Buyers lack imagination.

Here’s an alarming statistic - only 10% of buyers can visualize a home’s potential.  That means that nine out of ten people who visit the home will lack the ability to imagine the potential of the home or even a room’s purpose when it's empty.  

BEFORE

STAGING SOLUTION: Show buyers the wonderful possibilities of a space

In this room, we included two cozy chairs, modern art and mirrors, and built-ins full of fresh and simple accessories. Together, it helps buyers see that this room, with its beautiful windows, and location right off of the kitchen is the perfect room to hang out, read and have fun together as a family.

AFTER

AFTER

As you can tell by this house’s transformation, staging is a powerful tool for selling a home.  We took a listing that felt cold and lifeless and turned it into a home that’s warm, inviting, and ready to be purchased.

This home is presented by Jennifer Kinsman at Keller Williams Realty. One of its coolest features is that the home comes with lake rights and beach access to Lake Ontario. You can learn more about the listing here.

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