Home Staging By Lisa has been staging and styling homes since 2006. Over the past 18 years, we’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of staging, especially when it comes to vacant homes. In previous posts, we’ve discussed the value of home staging, explored which home renovation projects can boost your sale and shared top home staging tips for an open house. Today, our focus is going to be on staging a vacant property. Selling a house in today’s competitive real estate market can be challenging, but staging offers a strategic advantage. Here’s why staging a vacant home is not only beneficial, but essential for a successful sale.
Helps Buyers Visualize the Space
One of the biggest challenges in selling a vacant home is that empty rooms can feel cold, impersonal, and often overwhelming. Buyers may struggle to visualize how their furniture will fit, or even how the space can be used. Staging bridges that gap by showcasing the home’s potential. According to recent data, 82% of buyers’ agents said that staging a home made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home. By placing carefully selected furniture, décor, and accessories in each room, staging helps create a warm, inviting atmosphere. It allows potential buyers to see themselves living in the space, making it easier for them to connect emotionally with the home.
Highlights the Home’s Best Features
Every home has unique selling points—whether it’s a stunning fireplace, high ceilings, or an open-concept layout. However, these features can easily go unnoticed in a vacant property. Staging is a powerful tool to draw attention to these key elements. By strategically placing furniture and décor in a way that directs the eye, staging highlights the home’s architectural features and maximizes its space & appeal.
Creates a Positive First Impression
First impressions matter, especially in real estate. A vacant home can sometimes feel neglected or even give the impression that it’s been on the market for a while. Staging eliminates these concerns by presenting the property in its best possible light from the moment potential buyers walk through the door. A well-staged home looks polished, well-cared-for, and ready for move-in, which can significantly boost buyer interest.
Speeds Up the Selling Process
Homes that are staged tend to sell faster than those that aren’t. This is because staging not only makes a home more attractive to buyers, but also helps it stand out online. A home that is professionally staged spends 73% less time on the market compared to one that isn’t staged. Since most buyers start their home search online, having eye-catching photos of a beautifully staged home can lead to more showings and ultimately, a quicker sale.
Potential for Higher Offers
Staged homes often sell for more money. When buyers can easily visualize themselves living in a home and see the potential of the space, they’re more likely to make higher offers. In fact, staged homes typically sell for about 25% more than those that haven’t been staged. The investment in staging can pay off in the form of a higher sale price, making it a smart financial decision for sellers.
Minimizes the Home’s Flaws
Every home has its imperfections, but in a vacant property, these flaws can be more apparent. Without furniture or décor to distract the eye, small issues like minor wall cracks, uneven flooring, or outdated fixtures may become focal points. Staging can minimize these flaws by directing attention away from them and towards the home’s strengths. Well-placed furniture, rugs, and lighting can work wonders in downplaying imperfections and creating a more cohesive, appealing look.
Keeps the Buyers Focused
In a vacant home, buyers may become distracted by the emptiness, imagining renovations or changes rather than focusing on the house itself and any imperfections. Staging keeps buyers’ attention on the positive aspects of the home and helps them to see how the space can work for them. This can reduce the chances of buyers being overwhelmed by the thought of additional work or changes needed, making them more likely to move forward with an offer. And the belief that a vacant room appears larger is counter intuitive as a professionally staged room will appear larger with the correct scale of furniture and accessories.
Staging a vacant home is not just about making it look pretty; it’s a strategic move that can significantly impact the sale of the property. By helping buyers visualize the space, highlighting the home’s best features and creating a positive first impression, staging sets the stage for a quick and successful sale. If you’re selling a vacant home, investing in professional staging could be the key to attracting the right buyer and getting the best possible price.
Ready to transform your vacant property into a buyer’s dream home? Contact us today to learn more about our staging services and how we can help you achieve a successful sale.
Home Staging by Lisa – is a trusted partner in the Chicago Western Suburbs for home staging and decorating. They specialize in helping agents and their clients achieve optimal returns on investment, while also offering homeowners a personalized redesign service to create spaces they love coming home to. Servicing Chicagoland areas of Addison, Bartlett, Bensenville, Berwyn, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hinsdale, Lagrange, Lombard, Lisle, Naperville, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Oak Park, Roselle, St. Charles, Streamwood, Villa Park, Warrenville, Western Springs, Westmont, Wheaton, Winfield.