And, according to the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), a 2008 survey revealed that vacant homes that were staged spent 85% less time on the market than unstaged vacant homes.
Why Should a Vacant Property Be Professionally Staged?
- Only 10% of buyers can see beyond emptiness and envision their possessions in a home or apartment
- Empty rooms appear smaller than they really are
- Buyers can’t use their imagination to see the home’s potential
- Buyers are overwhelmed by a lack of vision
- Buyers can’t imagine where their furniture will go
- Without a frame of reference, it’s incredibly difficult to tell the scale and size of the room
- Without furniture, a buyer may be confused as to the purpose of the room: “Is this a study or an extra bedroom?”
- Buyers can’t imagine living there
- Buyers think the owner is desperate to sell because “they must be carrying two mortgages, utilities, maintenance, etc.”
- Vacant homes appear soulless and no emotional attachment can be felt
- Vacant homes can appear to be neglected
- Paint colors and wallpaper stand out if too drastic, and buyers look at it as work to do
- Dirt and small defects stand out more: holes or cracks in walls, stains in carpet, grout in bathroom, scuff marks on walls and doors
- The emptiness will make the home appear as if there are too many windows, too many doors and too many expansive walls
