Don’t list your empty Broomfield home

Posted by admin - April 11th, 2008

Yes, I know, I nag about clutter (not my own, mind you, just the home sellers) because one thing that will kill a deal almost as fast as overpricing a home is CLUTTER. Today however, I’m here to say you can go too far in the opposite direction and kill the deal with an empty house too. Clearly there is an optimal level of fullness to a house.

For whatever reason, buyers seem to have a lot of trouble picturing themselves in an empty home. I don’t know why this is, it just IS. If you have moved out while your home is on the market the best thing you can do is leave at least some things behind to assist the Realtor in staging your home.

Actually when I’m confronted with an empty house I call/email friends/relatives/neighbors/whatever and ask them for “stuff” - for example: a crappy old table can be made into a pretty one with a decent table cloth. You can also get great stuff at the thrift store for just such an occasion. You don’t have to stage the entire house (unless you’re really flush with cash and can afford it!) but I like to focus on the important areas, i.e. the kitchen and bathroom.

Visit some model homes if you’d like some staging ideas. Basically, set the dining room table as if you’re hosting a great party and stage the bathroom like it was a spa.

I know that some stagers will tell you that you have to stage every room but let’s face it, most people I talk to don’t have a ton of money to spare, and in this buyer’s-market-era they’re trying to squeeze every possible dime they can out of the house.

So I’m going to say that you do NOT have to stage the entire house, unless again you can afford to.

As I’ve mentioned before, (and will mention about one million times after) your home will ONLY sell for market value. If you have it priced correctly (or even overpriced to begin with) staging will NOT increase your home’s value tens of thousands of dollars. What it will do however is help sell it faster and for top market value. Which, if you’re in a hurry to sell or if you really are hoping to push the limit on your home’s market value, it’s huge.

Here’s an article on staging an empty home that backs up my theory.

Here are some great before and after photos that may help convince you that you need to do at least some staging and not leave the entire house empty.

http://www.brandeeshomestaging.com/before_and_after.html

http://216.154.231.149/maury/stagingprogram.htm

http://www.stagedproductions.com/StagedProductions/BeforeAfter.htm