QUESTION: What is the difference between occupied home staging and vacant home staging? Which one is better?
Vacant home staging is often considered better than occupied home staging for several reasons:
1. Neutralizing Personal Style: Vacant home staging allows for a blank canvas where a professional stager can create a neutral and universally appealing design. It helps remove the personal style and belongings of the current occupants, allowing potential buyers to envision their own furniture and décor in the space.
2. Highlighting Space and Flow: Vacant homes often appear more spacious and have better flow because there are no personal belongings cluttering the rooms. Staging can strategically arrange furniture and accessories to showcase the layout, room size, and architectural features, making it easier for buyers to understand the potential of the space.
3. Avoiding Distractions: Occupied homes can have personalized décor, clutter, or specific furniture arrangements that may not resonate with all potential buyers. Vacant home staging avoids these distractions and presents a clean, well-organized environment, ensuring the focus remains on the property's features, rather than the personal belongings of the occupants.
4. Flexibility for Photography and Showings: Vacant homes are easier to photograph and showcase during showings since there are no personal items or daily living activities to navigate around. This allows for high-quality marketing materials and provides a smoother experience for potential buyers when visiting the property.
5. Emotional Connection: While occupied home staging can still create a warm and inviting atmosphere, vacant home staging allows buyers to visualize themselves in the space more easily. The neutral and stylized presentation can evoke positive emotions, facilitating a stronger emotional connection with the property.
Overall, vacant home staging provides more flexibility for design, photography, and showings while allowing potential buyers to focus on the property's features and visualize their own lifestyle in the space.