To answer your question, yes.
What's probably more important is whether it stands a better chance of getting sold, and Dugald Allen and Kary Krismer address that question very well.
No "Phone To Show," EZ to show. Whether it sells .... different question.

Gladys,
As you can see from the differences of opinion, there is no clear cut answer to your question. Vacant homes are easier to show, but don't always show well. Staged homes show best, but they don't have to be vacant. My best advice is to work with someone who will understand the complete situation you find yourself in and devise a plan which makes sense.
Paying two mortgages is a burden, living in a showplace is also a burden, which one works best for you depends on you. Are you under contact on the home you are selling, or a purchase elsewhere?
Dan

Dear Gladys,

If the home is vacant, it can often feel cold, so some "soft staging" would be helpful. A house is not more likely to be shown simply because it is vacant. The key issue is whether or not the home is a good value.

Once a home is a good value, then it is important for the Sellers to be very accomodating on showings. In the listing I don't recommend requiring appointments. I like to ask agents to call and then show. If the home is lived in, I believe in helping my Sellers stage their home for sale.

Please feel free to contact me for more details on staging a home for sale.

Warm Regards,
Karen

Staging the bathrooom and kitchen counters and bringing in inflatable beds is what we call light staging. That really helps if the owner can't afford the real thing.

Hi Gladys. I'm selling in Kitsap. We are under contract. Our house is vacant - but we left wall decor and the bathrooms staged. If I had to do it again though, I would leave more furniture. We heard feedback that it was too small, but I think if we had some well placed furniture that may have been less of a concern. Good luck!

Gladys, it probably won't hurt your chances of being *shown*, but vacant may hurt your chances of being *sold.*

A lot depends upon the home itself - what condition it's in and the layout.

Vacant doesn't mean unfurnished. A Vacant, nicely furnished (or professionally staged) home is the best option for a home to be shown - and sold.

...but I just listed and sold a gorgeous home in 5 days here in Bellevue. It was vacant and unfurnished. As you walked into the house, it was just "obvious" what you'd do with furnishings etc.

It all depends upon the house.

You will attract the greatest number potential buyers being vacant because there are actually a few cash buyers who want to close quickly. Also, there will be no scheduling issues with showing the property. A scheduling conflict (e.g. "I'm in the shower, can you show the property in 20 minutes?") might mean the buyer that was going to see the property never sees it.

There are problems with vacant, including the fact some people cannot visualize well, which is why staging is so popular. In addition, a buyer might think you're more desperate to sell, and thus being vacant can affect the negotiations.

So there are positives and negatives to being vacant.

The home has a better chance of being shown if it is properly and professionally staged. You want the home to be spotlessly clean and appealing to the broadest range of buyers.

No.

The answers below are very good, and all make valid points. But addressing your specific question--does a house stand a better chance of being shown if it is vacant--the answer is no.

True, if someone needs to buy immediately, then vacant houses will be at the top of the list. But that's not usually the case.

And, true, it often is easier to show a vacant house--no scheduling issues, etc.

But in most cases, an agent wil be working with a buyer. The buyer will have certain requirements and other preferences--number of bedrooms, number of baths, specific school district, style of home, age of home, price, and so on. Most agents will try to find the homes that best match those criteria. For instance: All homes between $450,000 and $600,000 having 4 or more bedrooms, 2 or more baths, no more than 25 years old, in the Robinson or Woodson school districts in Fairfax County, Virginia. If that produces an unmanageable number of listings, they'll tighten the criteria a bit. Few buyers specify that they want to view only vacant (or only occupied) homes. And few agents will eliminate an otherwise ideal match simply because it's occupied.

So, while the other points about how houses show when vacant versus occupied, whether staging is effective, whether it's more difficult scheduling appointments, are all correct, the answer to your question is "no."

Hope that helps.

Over the years, I've had several occasions where buyers arrive into town, with only a few days until the moving truck arrives, and they "have to find a house NOW", In that situation, I pull up all the listingings that meet their criteria, and suggest that we look at the vacant houses first. They usuallly choose one of them. If nothing suits their fancy, we go to "plan B", the homes that are occupied.

This is not the usual occurrance, so please don't make your house vacant unless it works to your own advantage.

Jean Bradford
Associate Broker, ABR,GRI,CRS,CRB

Thumbs up from me.Fred for a great answer!

Several Pros and Cons to consider about Vacant Houses:

1. Many Real Estate Agents like the fact that they don't have to make an appointment to show.
If there are a lot of houses for sale in your neighborhood or area,
the "Vacant - MLS Lockbox" notice in the Multiple Listing Service
may get your property bumped to the top of a real estate agent's showing list.

2. Buyers may think that a Vacant house means that the Sellers are desperate,
or that it is approaching Foreclosure. Buyers may be tempted to Offer Less Money,
thinking that the Seller needs to get rid of the house quickly.

3. In some cases, Vacant Houses may be visually unappealing.
Your Real Estate Broker may suggest "Staging", which makes the home appear more inviting to a Buyer.

4. A Vacant house may present issues with your Insurance Policy.
An unoccupied or vacant house may result in increased Insurance Premiums.

5. A Vacant house, depending upon the neighborhood or area, may become a magnet for
transients or vandals.

6. On a positive note, the Buyer is not distracted looking at "your stuff".
The Buyer can mentally place their furniture, their belongings, etc. into the vacant house.

7. In a Vacant house, it may be easier to see any defects or stains or cracks or other problems.
This can help avoid liability issues regarding latent defects.

8. A Home Inspector, a Wood-Destroying Organism Inspector,
a Contractor giving estimates for remodeling,
and other Repairmen and Vendors involved in the transaction,
will prefer the Vacant House.

9. There are other pros and cons regarding vacant vs. occupied.

*** Talk with your Broker or Agent about what is best for your neighborhood or area. ***

---------------
Best wishes to you,
Fred
----------------

I would rather show a vacant house any day of the week,mainly because of the convenience of not having to arrange with the sellers for a time which is convenient for them. Also very few sellers--no matter how nicely staged the home may be will remember to stash their personal stuff--toothbrushes,bottles of shampoo,bottles of diswashing liquid etc. are a real detraction. I remember vewing one home in the million plus range that was so OVERSTAGED with those overblown dining table arrangements,overelaborate window treatments that blocked out the beautiful view & natural light that all anyone could remember afterwaqrds was how much stuff was in the house--no relevant details about the house itself. The owner claimed to be an interior decorator,yet didn't remember to remove her cosmetics & shampoo bottles etc. from the master bath. That house has been on the market for YEARS!

Gladys,
All that Marilyn told you is true, but to me more direct to your question, a staged, vacant home is the best case scenario for selling on today's market. With so many homes on the market buyers are being really picky with what they shop and see. A vacant home allows them to shop freely in their time frame not the sellers. A staged home, presented right, brings out the best in your home without all the personal clutter and lived look of an occupied house. Good Luck with your plans. If I can be of any further help dont hesitate to contact me.

No, your house will not be shown more if it is vacant. Your house will gather the most attention and showings if it is properly priced for the market, staged nicely, and professionally photographed. The better the marketing items look to prospective buyers and agents when they see it online, the more likely they will be to want to take a look.

It's easier to show a house that is vacant, yes, however it's easier to pay ONE mortgage. I don't know your situation, but if paying two mortgages at once is how you'll show your property vacant - don't do it! There's no guarantee your house will even sell. If you're in a position where you can vacate without any additional financial burden, be sure to keep the utilities on at the house. It's a good idea to go by every few days and open doors and windows to air the home out.

A good option is to remove most household belongings. You can store them in a POD (Portable On Demand) Storage unit, and then have it moved to your new house when you're ready. Declutter your house as much as possible, be as flexible as possible on showings, and GET EVERYONE (especially pets) out for all your showings.