ARTICLE - Why you shouldn't leave a property empty when selling

When selling a property, you need to ensure that your home stands out against its competition. On paper it may tick all the boxes (3 bed, 2 bath, garden, parking etc...) and thats why a buyer may pick it to view, but after that its the look and feel of a property that will clinch the deal. Getting the feel right is the most important thing you can do when getting your home ready for sale.

One huge mistake people commonly do is to try and sell empty homes - whether its because it was previously rented, or that they have now moved away and take their belongings with them, it is a recipe for a home being on the market for a long time.

So, why is it so bad to try and sell your property when its empty?

1. People buy what they can see - if they can't visualise a home then they will move on to the next property

2. Empty homes can feel smaller than they actually are - people (especially in bedrooms) find it very hard to see how their furniture will fit into rooms, and often discount rooms that are not obviously large on these grounds

3. Decor thats not in great condition can be seen more clearly when the property is empty. Don't get me wrong, we are not looking at hiding faults when we stage, but wear and tear will happen, and if you have furnished the property then people can forgive this more easily.

4. The estate agents photos on the marketing will look very bland, and not appeal to buyers who may be searching through lots of properties to pick a short list. You need to pull them into your home!

5. The smaller things will stand out more - if the kitchen and bathroom and carpet etc... are not 100% new then it will show more obviously in an empty home.

6. An empty home suggests you are desperate to sell - even if thats not the case you may well get lower offers than the property deserves.

There are however options when you are selling an empty home - don't think that you have to spend thousands on fully furnishing your property simply for sale, but a few tricks can really help

1. Ensure all decor is in great condition if you do leave empty - then buyers will be drawn to the new house feel. Carpet and paingt can be bought relatively inexpensively

2. Stage key areas of a home - if you have a large open plan space, staging this so that people can see the different zones will really help, as would adding a single bed to a box room that will easily accomodate one, and a sofa in a lounge. These are the key items that people worry about.

3. Consider hiring in furniture and accessories for the duration that the house is on the market. This is an easy and hassle free way of doing things as most companies will unpack, take away all packaging, and pick up at your convenience. Some also offer a deal where if your buyers want, they can purchase the items as well - which can be another draw - especially for first time buyers or rental properties.

4. Take pictures prior to removing your furniture, and create a photobook to hand to buyers at viewings - they can at least see what the room looked like when furnished.

I hope these ideas help. I can source furniture and accessories if you are looking to go down this route, or can simply offer advice directly to your needs - call today for a chat!