I am selling a house that I have been using as a rental for the past 4 years and I just read an article about how empty houses do not sell as well as staged houses. Granted most of these articles end with a paid staging professionals number.
I wanted to know everyones honest opinion. These articles suggested renting furniture etc. Another one suggested little things like silk plants and rugs.
Would it matter to you when looking at a home? Would an empty house appeal to you more than a staged house? or the opposite.
Do you think I should go out and buy rugs and shower curtains for the bathrooms?
I am painting the house, I am going to do a almond color in the livingroom/ kitchen. Then the rest of the house will be a flat white with semi gloss trim. My realtor suggested doing the livingrom downstairs the almond color as well, but I am using a paint sprayer in the basement and I dont think it would be worth the time to hand paint the 2nd living room.
I live several hours away, so I cant really put my furniture in there. All the windows have wood blinds, but no curtains. The curb appeal is great. I was thinking of getting a wreath for the door.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Do you think financially it would be worth me going out and buying decorations?
Maybe painting the garage floor?

It's really hard to say...I know Dh and I preferred to look at houses empty but a lot of people will say they preferred it at least partially furnished. How is the market in your area? If it's a tough market, staging might really be helpful to selling it. If the market is booming, it won't be necessary. I think painting and cleaning it really really REALLY well is great and it may be all you need to do...

I would say to most people it doesnt matter as long as the house is nice and CLEAN! When dh and I were looking at homes we prefered to look at homes that were either totally empty or slightly staged(just to get an idea if our furniture would fit in that home). Since you live several hours away though I would say just do the painting and the cleaning and leave the rest up to the realtor. No need to go overboard buying extra stuff.

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SAHM to Elias 3/00, Camdyn 7/03 and Teagan 5/08

Take it from a new Realtor! You would think it doesn't matter, BUT it really does. Statistically an empty home takes twice as long to sell! Most people are emotional buyers and a staged home works on that. You don't have to move in furniture, but you should add little extras. Here are some tips that my stager I work with gave me at our first meeting:
Add the wreath to the front door or a pair of nice pots on either side of front door, red geraniums work really well.
Add something to the entry hall so it's not bare, you want warm and welcoming.
Always have a flower arrangement and candles (in a group of three) on the fireplace mantle.
Go to walmart and buy matching towel/washcloth set - one set for each bathroom. Warm color like a taupe or green. roll up the washcloth and tie a pretty ribbon around it, Add a couple candles in a vanilla or similar scent.
Add flower arrangement and matching towel set to the kitchen, add nice serving wear, candles or similar.
Bake something before showing or reuse that pretty ribbon and tie a couple cinnamon sticks together and leave somewhere decorative.
Make sure it's kept clean and neat from the outside.
A person judges the house by the outside, then once inside makes up there mind within a couple minutes, so make sure the entry "flows" and is inviting so they go explore the rest
Good luck and listen to your Realtor!

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I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. I must not fail to do the something that I can do. -Edward Hale

I don't know what to tell you either. We recently sold our house in a neighborhood with Twenty houses for sale at the same time. One of our next door neighbors had their house for sale. They did the professional staging. Our house was empty because we had already moved. There was no true difference in updates, size, or yard with the two houses. They both sold the same day.