The question is as old as real estate…”Should I move and sell my home while it’s empty or should I live in the home until it sells?

Some people don’t have a choice, but for those who can go either way, is it easier to sell a home with furniture or without?

Pro’s and Con’s for Furnished Homes

• Furnishings give a lived-in feeling to a property.

• Furnishings give buyer’s an idea about where they can place their furniture.

• Real estate agent’s who say furnished sells better, sites builder model homes.  Builder’s wouldn’t stage and furnish a model home, if it didn’t matter.

• Model Home, Aside…If your furniture and decor  leaves something to be desired, you may not want to give the Model Home comparison much weight. 

• The living, dining and family rooms are the most important rooms to furnish. 

• Furnishings give a lived in feeling to a home.  (Scroll up and reread Model Home, Aside, before you decide)

• Living in a home for sale is no picnic.  As a matter of fact it can be hell.   Showing a home when a buyer wants to see it is job #1.   So, living in a home for sale means you and the family need to live a very flexible and clean life until moving day comes.  

 Pro’s and Con’s of Unfurnished

• A lot of people prefer a “blank canvas” when they imagine placing their things in a room.

• Agent’s are split 50/50 on their opinion about furnishings and room sizes.  Half say empty looks bigger.  Half say furnished looks more spacious.

• Empty homes tend to show more flaws.  Furniture and rugs hide dints, dings can hide, or detract from, a lot of  defects, wear and tear.

• Some agents feel that buyers think that empty homes are owned by desperate sellers.   The truth is that just because a home is empty, it doesn’t mean the seller will give it away.

• Vacant homes get more Showings.  This is true.  Empty houses get more showings because agents know that they can be seen in a moments notice.  They don’t need to call for an appointment or wait around for a seller to make the bed, put the dishes away and round up the dogs and kids.

Furnished or Unfurnished??  The experts are divided.   If you can’t decide, just remember that at the right price, any home will sell.

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