🛋️ Vacant vs. occupied staging: what’s the difference?
Vacant refers to homes that are not being lived in while on the market. This is often new construction houses, flipped properties, or the homeowners have already moved out. When staging an empty or vacant home, there’s a lot of freedom and flexibility. No stuff to work around, just a blank space to start fresh. For more expert tips on staging, check out the National Association of Realtors‘ guide on home staging tips.
Professional stagers, like BA Staging & Interiors, will bring in furniture, art, and decor that follows current trends and targets the most ideal buyer. Occasionally vacant homes will still have some furniture items left from the previous occupants. Your home stager expert will advise you on what items can be incorporated into the staging design, and which items should be removed.
Occupied homes mean that the home is being lived in full time while it’s on the market, which is common since the majority of people wait to sell their home before moving into another.
This is when things can be a little bit trickier with staging. A stager who specializes in occupied homes will help you create a thorough plan of action. Homeowners will have to declutter, hide personal items, and remove or rearrange furniture to optimize the space. Occasionally additional accent furniture, accessories and decor will be brought in by the occupied stager. It takes effort but with the help of a professional stager it will still look amazing.
💡 Pros and cons of each approach
Vacant staging comes with many pros because you’re working with a clean slate. If the option is available for home sellers to move out while the home is on the market, this is always what’s recommended. This way the home can be presented in its absolute best, without having to work around existing furniture that may not create a cohesive look. The integrity of the staging and presentation of the home is preserved, without the home owner constantly having to re-tidy or make adjustments.
But on the flip side, vacant homes can have their challenges as well. If sellers decide to partner with an amateur stager, they may not have the knowledge, experience or inventory to fully furnish a vacant property, and you’ll be left with a space that still feels cold and lifeless.
Occupied staging, when done by a professional, can feel very warm and inviting. You’re using what’s already there so it’s easy for homesellers to continue to live normally and comfortably. But clutter, personal items, or outdated furniture can sometimes take the spotlight away from the house itself and prevent it from looking at its absolute best.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re working with vacant or occupied staging, what really matters is making your home look its best. If your home’s empty, it’s worth investing in staging services to bring it to life. Remember, a vacant home is always harder to sell.
Still living in it? A professional stager can still help you get the most out of your sale.
At BA Staging & Interiors we specialize in vacant homes, and offer consultation services for occupied sellers. Contact us today!
