Sellers /On March 20, 2013

Which Sells Better…a Vacant or a Furnished Home?

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I am often asked, “is it better to sell my home furnished, or vacant?” Like so many real estate questions, there is not a “one size fits all” answer – it really depends on the situation.

Generally speaking, homes show better if they are furnished. That assumes, of course, that furnished home vacant home resized 600 your furniture is not seriously outdated or too big for the room. If you have good looking “stuff,” then it’s probably best to put it on the market before you move.

Another option is to move out, but leave behind some key pieces of furniture to help “stage” the home. We like to call them vignettes – a sitting area in a family room or keeping room/breakfast area, etc….to warm up the space and help the prospective buyer imagine living there.

Another thing to consider in the furnished versus vacant debate is what the property will look like once you move out. If you have a lot of art/photos on walls, there will be holes when things come down. Although this is eventually going to happen anyway, it will definitely highlight to a prospective buyer the need to paint, and that may be reflected in an offer price.

The same thing applies to floors and carpeting – once furniture is removed, what kind of shape are they in?

On the other hand, if your plan is to apply a fresh coat of neutral paint (we recommend Believable Buff from Sherwin Williams, with a bright white trim to give a fresh, neutral appeal), and to replace (or at a minimum professionally clean) carpets, then a vacant home may be welcoming – and signal “move in ready” to a buyer who would like to move sooner rather than later.

If you’re struggling with the question of which would be best for your situation, one of our agents would be happy to help you by offering some complimentary advice. Email us at concierge@lizmoore.com or click below to get started!

Lynnette Tully

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Liz Moore & Associates is a boutique real estate agency renowned for having the region's top agents, with extensive market knowledge and local expertise that is only achieved through relentless training coupled with Liz's extremely high standards for professionalism. When you're buying or selling a home, experience matters.