When trying to sell your home, it’s important that visitors can picture themselves living there.
This can be achieved in different ways.
After all, not everyone falls in love with a home immediately or for the same reasons.
One important aspect of this is whether to sell a home furnished or unfurnished.
Let’s look closer to see which approach works best.
Do houses sell faster empty or furnished?
Most experts agree that furnished properties sell faster and attract more interest than unfurnished ones.
This is the case whether the furniture is to your visitor’s taste or not.
This doesn’t mean that viewers don’t also like to see a property unfurnished.
Why furnished houses sell faster
Aids visualising living in a property
Potential buyers like to picture themselves living in a property. It is difficult to do this in a home when it is a completely blank canvas.
For example, it is difficult to tell if a six-seater dining set will fit in a dining room if there isn’t a table in there already.
Hides imperfections
A furnished house will make any imperfections less obvious and can even hide certain blemishes that may otherwise make a room look a little unkempt.
For example, it can hide small cracks on walls that potential buyers might notice.
How to cheaply furnish your home before viewings
There is a reason why big house developers almost always furnish their show homes.
These properties usually have the appearance of a lived-in house, with accessories professionally scattered around the home.
It is just one of several ways in which properties can be prepared to be sold quicker.
Presentation is key, which is why some people use the skills of a home staging company. But when your budget won’t stretch for this service, you can try the following tips instead.
Grab what you can for free
There are a range of websites and groups online where people give away furniture to anyone who will pick it up. If you’re filling an empty home, excellent places to start are:
- Gumtree
- Facebook Marketplace
- Freecycle
- LoveJunk
- Nextdoor
Shop cheap
If you have a budget to spend then you can get some home bargains at the likes of Argos, Ikea, and even Wilkinsons.
There is a mix of quality and prices, but it is more than possible to furnish your home with the basics for cheap.
Recycling
Your local council will know about furniture recycling schemes, so it is possible to get some free furniture by contacting them directly.
Donation centres also accept furniture after you have no use for it (to help families who cannot afford to furnish their home), so be sure to help the furniture find a good home when it has served its purpose for you.
Ask friends and family
You’ll be surprised at what friends and family have in storage that they don’t mind you borrowing.
You may have to ask very nicely and find a mode of transport for bulky items, but this will help furnish a home temporarily.
Car boot sales
A British classic – and a way to get hold of a bargain on the weekend. Some people have yard sales so keep an eye out for those as well.
eBay
Sometimes you need a little luck, but eBay can be a great resource for cheap furnishings. Again, there is no need to be picky… just find a cheap version of the furniture you need.
You mustn’t go over budget and furnish your home in a style that is going to eat into your potential profit.
Shop smartly and you can give your property a warm feel without digging into the extra money from the sale.
You don’t always need to use a decorating service to make your home look great. Just don’t forget to include small decorations like pictures, plants, and the odd piece of art (a cheap canvas from any of the above will do) because a personal touch goes a long way.
3 tips for preparing unfurnished properties for viewing
It’s not always possible to fully furnish your home for sale, even cheaply. When this is the case, try some of the following tricks to make it look as good as possible:
1. Professionally clean carpets
A steam clean can significantly improve the appearance of carpets.
Using a professional service to do this is a useful way of making your home more appealing. It can rid it of unsightly stains and ensure it smells fresh.
It also reassures a potential buyer that it has been well looked after.
2. Fix imperfections
A bit of a touch up can go a long way towards selling your home for the price you want – so check for scuffs and marks that can be fixed. You should also:
- Fill in any holes
- Fix broken tiles
- Give a room a lick of paint if it is looking tired
A neutral colour is a safe bet for this final step – and can help to make a room look bigger.
3. Get the basics right
Curtains and lampshades are easy to get hold of and not overly expensive.
The same goes for light bulbs that need replacing.
Even empty window frames can be off-putting for viewers. So, a plant or two may make your home more welcoming, even if you don’t have furniture in every room.
How to sell your house fast
If you’re looking to sell your property as soon as possible We Buy Any Home can help you.
We are cash buyers that use our own capital to buy your property at a fixed price on a date you choose. We also manage the entire process from start to finish.
No matter the location or condition, we purchase homes across the UK—from Cardiff to Clyde and Durham to Dover. Our expert team has facilitated quick and effortless sales for thousands.
Interested in a cash offer for your home? Complete our inquiry form below.
