There are many reasons why a property might be put up for sale unfurnished. New builds, owners who have already moved out, or heirs who have cleared out an inherited home. And if you think it’s easier to sell an empty home as it has fewer distractions for potential buyers, you’re not alone!
However, empty properties tend to stay longer on the market and often sell for less than furnished ones. That’s why home staging for empty homes is one of the most cost-effective ways to sell a property, helping you achieve a successful sale with minimal investment. Let’s review why.
Empty Spaces Look Smaller
It might sound counterintuitive, but an unfurnished home actually looks much smaller than one styled with furniture in proportion to the space. The reason is simple: most people struggle to visualise scale without points of reference. Even if they take measurements, they can’t effectively picture how their furniture would fit.
It’s very common to see how surprised people react when they compare the same room empty versus furnished. The empty one always looks smaller! On top of this, when there’s nothing but bare walls and floors, any minor flaw instantly becomes noticeable. Unfortunately, this leads potential buyers to fixate on imperfections rather than seeing the property’s potential.
By preparing a property with home staging, buyers can focus on what truly matters — the home itself, not what it may or may not be missing.
There’s No Emotional Connection
No matter how rational a buyer thinks they are, purchasing a home is always an emotional decision. People want to feel that a property could become their home. Without that emotional connection, it’s unlikely that interest will turn into a sale.
Empty properties can often feel cold and uninviting. Footsteps echo, voices bounce off the walls, and the space feels impersonal. With home staging, we don’t just furnish the rooms, we create scenes where buyers can picture themselves enjoying a morning coffee in the kitchen or hosting dinner with family and friends in the dining room.
The house is carefully styled and staged, like a scene from a film, designed to spark the imagination and leave a lasting impression.
Every Space has its Purpose
Many homes have awkward or undefined spaces. But in empty properties, these stand out like a sore thumb, often being seen as “wasted space.” One of the key principles of home staging is to give every area of the home a clear purpose.
A nook under the stairs can become a small home office. An unused kitchen corner can be transformed into a cosy breakfast spot. What was once considered wasted space becomes a valuable feature that adds functionality, and more importantly value, to the property. With home staging, nothing is left to chance.
Low-Cost Home Staging
Many people assume that home staging is only for luxury homes and must be too expensive for the average homeowner. In reality, low-cost home staging is a popular and highly effective option for empty properties. It combines real furniture with lightweight cardboard furniture to create beautifully styled spaces at a fraction of the cost.
Cardboard furniture is surprisingly realistic, and with professional staging, most buyers don’t even notice that some of the pieces aren’t real. Plus, since the furniture and accessories remain in place during the sale period, buyers won’t feel disappointed when viewing the home in person – it looks just like the photos.
This type of service is currently the most popular in Spain — and for good reason. The average cost of such a home staging project is around 0.83% of the property’s value, while the average increase in sale price is around 10% or more. In other words, a £2,000 investment could generate £20,000–£30,000 in added value. A more than worthwhile investment!
Show Homes and Staging for Investors
Show homes were the original form of home staging for empty properties. In new developments, one of the apartments would always be fully furnished and decorated so potential buyers could see its potential.
Pilot homes are less common today due to the rise of virtual tours and strong market demand. However, home staging remains the most effective way to showcase a property’s true value.
Given the choice, would you rather visit a fully styled and furnished property, or just see a virtual tour on a screen? Exactly. That’s why so many investors recognise the power of home staging to maximise the value of their assets and secure a faster sale.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a homeowner, investor or heir selling an inherited property, now is the time to consider home staging for empty homes. In a competitive market, it’s essential to make your property stand out.
Give your home the value it deserves with professional, thoughtful preparation through home staging — you won’t be disappointed.
