Real estate agents agree that vacant houses are a growing segment of the real estate market and pose unique difficulties for showcasing and selling a home. There is a misconception that a vacant home is easier to sell, but professionals in the field understand that an empty house can scare prospective buyers away.

Most home buyers cannot see beyond an empty home. With no furniture to focus on, a buyer will be much more inclined to narrow in on any imperfections—spotting the scratch on the floor, the nail holes in the wall, grout in the kitchen or the coldness that an empty room can convey.

“People aren’t looking to buy a house, they are looking to buy a home,” said Birgit Anich, a home stager with Connecticut-based Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors. “Without furniture, wall art, rugs, lighting and décor, there are no emotional connection points in the house. The house does not show its soul or offer any lifestyle that buyers can aspire to.”

When a prospective home buyer perceives flaws and can’t focus on the home’s potential, there will be fewer offers, greater price reductions, more days on the market, higher carrying costs, and less profit.

Additionally, prospective buyers beginning their search on the Internet are less likely to look at your online photos if all they see are empty rooms.

Chances are, if you’re already paying a mortgage on a new home, you’re going to want to sell your old home fast. A vacant home conveys this message to potential buyers and sets the stage for a better negotiating strategy since they know you want to sell quickly.

There is a lot of money on the table because of ongoing costs related to the mortgage, maintenance, insurance, and other carrying costs that need to be paid for while the property is sitting on the market without any income stream.

If you are in the process of selling a vacant home, take the time to bring in a stager to fill the space with furniture and make the home look lived in. By providing prospective buyers with a welcoming atmosphere, they’ll be more apt to see themselves living in the home rather than pointing out what they don’t like about the place. Staging will help to emphasize the positive features of the property while downplaying the negative features.

“Never sell a home without furniture. In my experience, I’ve seen tremendous results when staging a vacant home,” said Los Angeles home stager Elizabeth James. “Buyers become overwhelmed by a lack of vision in each space with no identifiable purpose.”

By taking the time to stage a vacant home, you will create that vision and get a quicker and hopefully more profitable outcome. For more information on Birgit Anich Staging & Interiors, visit www.BirgitAnich.com.

For more information about selling a vacant home, contact our office today.