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Answers

Rainer
40,554
Diana L Faulkner
Romanoff Realty - Alamo Heights, TX
Alamo Heights Homes for Sale - Concierge Service

Staged, hands down.  Some buyers are not visual.  They need to know where the furniture goes.  In the vacant scenario, I usually would advise staging only the living room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom and bathroom. 

Mar 13, 2016 11:26 AM
Rainer
224,128
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

Hi Staged I just wrote this blog post this morning on staging homes in San Diego.

Mar 13, 2016 05:28 AM
Rainmaker
616,830
DEANNA C. SMITH CERTIFIED MOBILE NOTARY
Certified Mobile Notary Signing Agent - Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Highest Ranked Certified Mobile Notary in Virginia

WOW, I'm going against the grain here.   If the house has been vacant and is ENTIRELY EMPTY, I would leave it that way.   If the buyer has previously peeked in the windows and knows it was empty, are they going to think you're just "putting on a show"  by staging ?   What if the stager uses a different style from what the prospective buyer would use; could that discourage them ?   Finally, I guess it would depend on whether the seller is willing to cover the added expense.   Quality staging isn't cheap.   Sorry group, I think staging is critical to an occupied dwelling but not an EMPTY

Mar 13, 2016 12:01 PM
Rainmaker
5,775,107
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Staged, many of our stagers on Active Rain have written on the subject.  Among them are Kathy Streib , and  Sharon Tara .  There are several others, and right now names elude me.  A

Mar 13, 2016 08:38 AM
Rainer
3,880
Sarah Educate
Mount Juliet, TN
e-PRO REALTOR 'Educate To Sell Nashville'

It would depend on each room of the home.  In my opinion, some rooms appear smaller when empty and need furnitue pieces in order to show the functionality of the space.  Other rooms are best left open like a blank canvas.  STaging can be as small as rearranging major furnitue to simply adding a houseplant.  Agents who work with a staging co. can guide you through the process of making any given property desirable to a variety of different buyers while highlighting its key features.

Mar 13, 2016 08:04 AM
Rainmaker
5,589,875
Barbara Todaro
Keller Williams Elite - Franklin, MA
"connecting land with builders"

Price it to sell and all you'll need is the key to the front door!!!!

Mar 13, 2016 06:29 AM
Ambassador
7,123,546
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Depends on what you put into them.

Jun 11, 2019 09:00 PM
Rainmaker
6,346,413
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

In our market, it doesn't matter, but usually staged.

Mar 15, 2016 11:06 AM
Rainmaker
634,582
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Lightly staged, one great piece of furniture in a small room, a few in a large room and voila an open and spacious look with minimal staging.

Mar 14, 2016 06:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,973
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Staging is always a plus.

Mar 14, 2016 01:36 PM
Rainmaker
2,455,543
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Well obviously I say STAGE IT.

If a home is empty all it's flaws stand out. Rooms appear smaller. Some rooms are hard to define. Furniture placement is in question and causes confusion. 

Very few people can visualize.  

Mar 14, 2016 01:17 AM
Rainmaker
3,076,832
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

I vote staged...

Mar 14, 2016 12:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,272
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Robert 'VEGAS BOB' Swetz I agree, new home builders figured this out years ago.

Mar 13, 2016 11:50 PM
Rainmaker
873,159
Abby Stiller
TOP SELLING REALTY - Cape Coral, FL
SW Florida (239) 284-8637

It depends, but staged always going to look better on the buyer's eye.

Mar 13, 2016 11:22 PM
Rainmaker
5,008,111
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

It depends.  I don't believe I can recall ever seeing a professionally staged home that was cluttered.  

Mar 13, 2016 11:16 PM
Rainmaker
8,602,210
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Staged is better.

Mar 13, 2016 10:52 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,327
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

staged

Mar 13, 2016 10:44 PM
Rainmaker
3,417,850
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It depends on the size and price range. Upper range homes should always be staged. Others have pros and cons. I prefer empty, but painted and clean

Mar 13, 2016 10:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,757
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I am going with Diana L Faulkner 's answer...most people do not have the ability to visualize and will walk right through a vacant home without really "seeing" it unless there are focal points. 

Mar 13, 2016 10:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,430,158
Peter Mohylsky, www.athome30a
Property Management Inc.-Destin - Sandestin, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Staged is the answer from me. 

Mar 13, 2016 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
4,329,979
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Robert 'VEGAS BOB' Swetz - staging always helps home sell faster. Specially if homes are vacant...

Mar 13, 2016 04:30 PM
Ambassador
2,764,531
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Depends upon the price range.

Mar 13, 2016 01:19 PM
Rainmaker
2,236,226
Debbie Laity
CinaJones Real Estate - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County

Here goes that broken record...most sellers don't stage in my rural area. It's not something they do. Although I see the advantages of staging if the home is empty. I like the way a staged home looks and shows. 

Mar 13, 2016 01:17 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,324
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I say a little staging is a plus in most situations.

Mar 13, 2016 01:01 PM
Rainmaker
618,085
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential
​Bob,

IMHO, a professionally staged house will always how better than vacant.
Mar 13, 2016 12:33 PM
Rainmaker
1,583,955
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I've recently been sold on staging.  I'm going to go with stage it well.

Mar 13, 2016 12:02 PM
Ambassador
3,387,936
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Some furnishings, but not everything.  That's all part of staging is the decluttering.

Mar 13, 2016 11:06 AM
Rainmaker
2,502,062
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Staged 

Mar 13, 2016 10:14 AM
Rainer
321,664
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Staged if the home is larger.  For a smaller home just a few pieces could make a better viewing.  I'm amazed at the people that don't have an imagination.

Mar 13, 2016 09:54 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,584
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Lightly staged would be best

Mar 13, 2016 09:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,749,685
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Staged homes look  larger because they are unclutered. Vacant homes look smaller, and sometimes buyers can't understand which room is which. My vote is STAGED!

Mar 13, 2016 09:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,713,681
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I vote for staging.

Mar 13, 2016 08:55 AM
Ambassador
5,334,441
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I would recommend the staging. If done correctly no rooms are going to look cluttered

Mar 13, 2016 08:54 AM
Rainer
225,626
Bob Betel
Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc. - Sweetwater, TN
President, Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc

People do not have any imagination, so staging is always better than an empty home.

Mar 13, 2016 08:48 AM
Rainmaker
846,625
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

ASK Kathy Streib that question

Mar 13, 2016 08:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,273,437
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Always

Mar 13, 2016 08:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,772,123
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Defiantly staged.

Mar 13, 2016 08:13 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,857
FN LN
Toronto, ON

It depends.  For example, if the property is being sold primarily for land value because it is expected that the home will be demolished and replaced with a newer home, then it may not make sense to stage it.

Mar 13, 2016 07:48 AM
Rainmaker
5,593,568
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Mini Staging

 

Mar 13, 2016 07:28 AM
Rainmaker
1,294,975
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Staged is the way to go.

Condos -probably not.

Mar 13, 2016 07:27 AM
Rainmaker
2,976,726
Richie & You
people first-then business - Riverside, CA
Author & Consultant

Naked or dressed? That is what it all comes down to. If vacant, pristine clean. If staged, the eye will buy...

Mar 13, 2016 07:26 AM
Rainmaker
403,357
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

A good compromise is to stage rooms such as the living room, dining room and master bedroom. 

Mar 13, 2016 06:11 AM
Rainmaker
5,738,084
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Clearly staged homes can sell quicker, but sometimes it's not just affordable to stage. I've sold plenty of vacant homes quickly and at top dollar.

Mar 13, 2016 06:05 AM