Home sellers have a lot of work to do. They need to put their properties up for sale. Many of them work with a real estate agent to help get their home sold. Some sellers are usually preparing their house for showings while simultaneously researching other properties and neighborhoods that they would consider living in.
Sellers may be thinking about whether it’s better to show their homes before or after they’ve moved all of their furniture, electronics and personal items out of the residence. There are pros and cons to each situation. There is often a fair amount of effort and time spent on each approach, regardless of which one is chosen.
Selling a home in California isn’t always easy. You have to pay attention to current economic trends and market conditions. There may also be unexpected delays in the process. Regardless of what happens, you should still be able to successfully sell your house in most instances. Patience, planning and proactive steps can help you accomplish your goal.
Here are a few advantages and disadvantages of showing your home empty or showing your home staged as it’s currently situated:
Advantages of Showing Your Home Empty
1. It may take less time to sell your home. You may also be able to speed up the escrow process. Another nice thing is the fact that you won’t have to move or remove furniture or personal items when the house is staged.
2. You may find that it’s easier to move on to a new location by emptying your house after putting it up for sale. Certain buyers may even prefer looking at empty houses. There’s no clutter for them to wade through at a showing, and they could possibly move in sooner after the closing has been completed.
3. Some interested parties may have a tough time seeing themselves owning your house. This usually doesn’t happen very often. However, there could be a few buyers who wonder what they’re going to do with their own belongings, especially if some or all of the appliances, furniture, and fixtures are left behind.
Disadvantages of Showing Your Home Empty
1. Any damage or defects can be more noticeable. Because you’ve emptied your home, open house guests will likely pay more attention to any issues with the property. Warped floor tiles, loose siding or shingles, and other items can quickly draw their attention.
2. It may create an artificial sense of urgency. Some people who view homes for sale that are empty get the impression that the seller is trying to move the house in a hurry. This may or may not necessarily be true, but initial perceptions can be hard to shake.
3. Most empty houses spend more time on the market. Generally speaking, homes that have been emptied before the sale can take additional weeks or months to sell than houses that are still furnished. Except for newly constructed homes, many buyers prefer to purchase a property that looks like it’s been lived in.
Advantages of Showing Your Home Staged
1. It can increase the home’s resale value. Staged homes that are still furnished can raise the value of a house that’s up for sale by as much as five percent in some instances. This is often perceived value, but it’s still something to take into consideration.
2. Your house can stand out in a crowd. If you need to sell your home in a hurry or if you’re attempting to sell in a buyer’s market, you’ll need every possible advantage you can get. That’s why you may want to stage your house with an attractive photos and video content before moving your furniture and other personal possessions.
3. Buyers can make an emotional connection. Staging your house with almost everything as it is can help interested parties create an emotional attachment to the home. They can start seeing themselves living in the house much easier than they could than if the house was empty.
Disadvantages of Showing Your Home Staged
1. You’ll have to make time for staging your home. It may take a few hours or days to properly stage your home. Staging should be done carefully and not rushed. Remember how important first impressions are.
2. Staging can be a considerable financial investment. If you’re not able to stage your house, there are professional stagers that can help. They have years of experience in staging various properties for sale. The cost can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars or more, depending on the service and the work that is done.
3. It may result in the market date being postponed. Some home sellers choose to stage their homes before putting them up for sale. This could delay the market date (or day when the house is initially listed) for a while. This may or may not be a big difference for you.
Conclusion
If you’re confused about which tactic to use, you can always consult with your realtor. They should be able to give you some advice about what strategies have worked for similar home sales in your area. Ultimately, the decision will be based on your own personal preference.
Some owners opt to have their home staged before moving personal possessions out because they don’t have the time to move everything just yet, or prefer to show off a house that’s been lived in. Others may be thinking a few steps ahead of the game, realizing that moving to another property will probably be easier once they’ve emptied their current home first.
After you’ve accepted an offer, it won’t be very long before the sale has been completed. At closing, all final paperwork will be signed and filed. The buyer will receive the keys to your former house, and you’ll receive payment for the net proceeds from the sale.
You can put that money toward the purchase of another house or other big-ticket item, or just save it for a later date. Whatever you decide, you can finally close that chapter of your life. It’s time to look forward to a fresh new start in another location.
📞 Have Questions? Ask The Chris Eckert Real Estate Team
Give The Chris Eckert Real Estate Team a call today at 650.627.3799 to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale.
