Let’s face it, not many of us can easily “picture” the lifestyle that an empty room in a vacant home might provide. This is why paint stores offer clever apps that allow us to see how a new colour will look in our space and why New homes and Apartments are staged.

Yes, selling a vacant home is a bit more challenging than selling one that is occupied. These are homes that offer no promises of sanctuary and not even a hint of the simple, blissful moments one might realise under their roofs.

That lived-in, well-loved appeal left the home when you did.

It doesn’t matter why you had to move out of the house before it sold. What matters now is how you’re going to sell it — how does one market a vacant home?

You’ll need to spend some time – and some money – getting it right. But, since studies demonstrate that it takes significantly longer to sell an unfurnished vacant home, the investment of your time and money will be completely worth it.

Want to know how to jazz up a vacant home? Read on.

DIY home staging

If you have an eye for design, consider staging at least the most important rooms in your vacant home. Even if you aren’t particularly decorating-inclined, you’ll find brilliant DIY staging tips online at Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and A&E’s “Sell this House.”

The key to successful staging, however, happens before you decorate. Cleaning the home, from top-to-bottom and removing your excess belongings gives you a clean slate on which to work your magic.

Often, just a few well-placed pieces of furniture and accessories will help a vacant home look lived-in.

Hire a professional home stager

If you have more money than time, hire a local professional home stager. For one fee, (check out the costs in this link) the designer will bring in furniture, accessories and arrange them in a manner that shows off the home’s interior for maximum appeal to homebuyers.

Your Real Estate Agent should be able to recommend which Home Stager’s you should consider based on what you would like done and of course your budget. Don’t forget that a staged home sells faster than a vacant home.

Don’t neglect the yard

The Street view of your vacant home is especially important when it’s For Sale. It’s what entices (or repels) people to enter your home. Keep the lawn green and mowed, the gardens free of debris and shrubs and trees trimmed, even if it means hiring a gardener and/or a lawn mowing contractor. Your Real Estate Agent should be able to recommend a suitable gardener.

Studies prove that a furnished home sells 78 percent quicker, and for closer to asking price than a vacant home.

Yes, selling a home with no “life” in it is challenging, but not impossible.

Do you have a question on the local Real Estate market, or should you spend money on your home before you sell, or get a list of professional home stagers, just call Matt Wineera on 0274 951 536 who is always on hand to answer your query.  

Work with Matt Wineera who lists and sells in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa areas.