All About Greenville SC Real Estate

As you think ahead about listing your home for sale soon, you may be wondering if you should list your home for sale empty after you move out or if you should stage it. There are pros and cons associated with both options to consider. While there is no right or wrong answer to this, you may find that a closer look at the primary advantages and disadvantages for both can make one option more appealing to you than the other option.

The Appeal of a Staged Home

Most buyers will view images of your home online before deciding if they want to tour it or not. Furnished, staged homes may show better in these pictures than empty homes, so they may potentially generate more interest in your listing. Furthermore, a buyer may tour a dozen homes or more before deciding which property to make an offer on. Staging can make a home more appealing and memorable to a buyer. However, the staging effort must be effective, and a style that appeals to the masses must be used for the best results. A bad staging strategy can backfire and can turn off buyers who otherwise may have loved the home. The goal of staging is to help a buyer more easily envision living in the property.

Defining the Use of Each Area

Another factor to consider is the use of space. Staging is an exceptional way to define the use of space throughout the home. In bedrooms, a full-size bed and a dresser can show off how much area remains in a furnished room and can make a room appear to be more spacious. In a living-dining combination area, you can place the furniture strategically to show both uses of this space. In an empty home, this same space may seem like one very large room. The buyers may have trouble envisioning how the space could be used without proper staging efforts. If you have bonus or flex rooms, staging can be used to show these spaces used as a home office, a home gym, a media room or another desirable feature that can be a true selling point that buyers may love.

The Expense Associated With Staging the Property

While there are benefits associated with staging a property, there is also one significant downside to consider. A well-staged home may require your investment of several hundred dollars or more. After all, you want your home to look like a model home through the staging process, and your current home décor may not be of this caliber. In some cases, simply removing a few outdated pieces and investing in affordable decorative items, such as lamps and rugs, can add an incredible amount of style on a dime. Keep in mind that any new pieces that you purchase to stage your home can be used to decorate your new space as well. If you plan to move out of the home before listing it for sale, the matter of keeping many of your furnishings behind in your old home for several weeks or longer can be inconvenient.

As you can see, there is not a clear-cut answer regarding which option is best. Your agent may help you to determine if staging is cost-effective in your market. Reviewing your existing home décor and your home’s built-in features can also help you to decide how to proceed. Remember that the appeal of your home can potentially help you to sell it faster and closer to the asking price. With this in mind, spend ample time reviewing these options before deciding the best course of action for your home.