Selling an empty house

MJP43

Hi Folks,

About to put a house up for sale. Previosuly had tenants in, now empty.

I'm going to give the more tired areas a bit of a freshen up, do the gardens etc.

I have been looking at companies who allow you to effectively "rent" furniture for a month for the purpose of selling. Works out circa 400-500 ponds a month, to enhance the feel of the property.

Is this false economy? The house will not have an upward chain, is on the small-ish side(2 bed semi ideal for first time buyers) so wondered if it being empty might be more attractive than having it furnished as it would appear bigger.

Thanks in advance

freeisgood

I would not bother. It is mush easier to sell an empty house, as buyers can imagine their own belongings in there. We just sold an empty house. It doesn't make one bit of difference.

movilogo

Don't bother putting furniture! Empty homes looks better for sale. I just bought an empty house and couldn't be happier as rooms look larger without furniture

Kynthia

I personally feel empty properties can look tatty (no furniture to hide scuffs, marks and sun fading), unloved (and it's hard for a buyer to fall in love with an unloved property) and difficult to visualise whether furniture will fit.

Now your place may be freshened up, bright and look spacious. So you might not have trouble finding a buyer. However if you do have trouble you can then look at putting in some furnishings.

Pixie5740

Market it whilst it's unfurnished. If it takes ages to sell then maybe think about dressing the property with furniture and knickknacks.

Hoploz

I have just sold a previously rented, empty flat. We painted the walls and it looked much fresher. Cleaned the gloss work up (needs painting but we didn't bother)

I considered moving some furniture in answer have bits and bobs unused in our house, but it sold very quickly without. If it had stuck on the market I would have put the basics in, like bed, sofa, table etc. to give buyers a better idea.

In our case, most viewers were investors rather than owner occupiers, perhaps that might make a difference. It is ready to rent out with white goods and curtains left there.

Hermia

I sold an empty house in less than a week so i wouldn't rush to rent furniture yet. When I was buying I much preferred the empty places because I could immediately see what I was getting.

DaftyDuck

No, certainly don't bother, unless it's a "character" property, you stick antique furniture in, and aim for a premium audience - retired money-rich, for example.

However, an empty property should really gleam, ideally through repainting, but certainly through being spotless. There's no distraction from the paint blemishes and spiders' webs, so they stand out.

So, if possible, repaint in clean, bright, neutral colours. Ensure flooring is spotless. Ensure property is aired prior to viewings, if possible.

Do hang nice lampshades, if applicable, and do try to hang curtains. Both reduce echo, and make a room feel alive.

The only other exceptions I make are in the bathroom and kitchen. In the former some soap, towels, loo-roll, pot-pourri or summat pretty. In the latter, a coffee machine, kettle, a couple of pretty things on the surface.

Don't go for the odd-stick-of-furniture-left-over-from-my-home look. It never works, and either looks like you doss there as a bankrupt, or you are hiding stains on the walls/carpet.

For a small FTB house they often have no furniture to bring, so empty is of little disadvantage. I did a small Victorian terrace that way a few months back, and all feedback was positive, and it sold quickly.

theartfullodger

Empty houses/rooms look bigger: Don't waste your money & time.