Just realized staging homes to look empty is a total waste of money

I see agents spending lots on staging to make homes look empty, but it just feels cold. Buyers need to picture their own stuff, not see a blank box. A home with some life in it always shows better in my view.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_brian1mo agoMost Upvoted

My buddy Mark bought a place in Springfield last year. The sellers paid a ton to have everything cleared out except for these three random barstools left in the middle of the kitchen. It was so empty it echoed, and all you could notice were little flaws in the floors. He said walking through it felt like a warehouse, not a home. He only realized how nice the room layouts were after he moved his own couch in.

the_tyler1mo ago

But what if empty houses help you see the potential instead of the problems? @the_brian, Mark might have felt it was like a warehouse, but I find it easier to plan where my own couch would go. An empty room just needs your stuff to feel like home.

piperbailey1mo ago

Reminds me of this open house I saw where they took out all the furniture but left one lonely vase on the floor. It just felt off, like they forgot something. That kind of empty staging always seems a bit fake to me.

skyler_jackson271mo ago

Why do they always leave one thing behind? Like @the_brian said about the barstools. Saw a store display last week with just a coffee mug on a shelf. This empty trend feels forced, like they're trying too hard to be simple.