The Impact of Staging Your Home vs Showing It Vacant

By John Salkowski

The JRS Realty Group, founded by high-producing Real Estate Broker & Author John Salkowski was built on the notion that the secret to achieving incredible goals and getting true results is to dominate real estate with a team approach.

Do staged homes really sell faster than vacant homes, or is that just what we’re told? It’s a common question sellers ask before listing, and many feel pressure to stage because nearly everything they read says it’s the key to selling fast. The truth is, it’s not that simple; it often depends on the home.

Research shows that staged homes usually sell faster because furniture helps listings look better online, showing scale and how a space functions. But staging only works when it’s done right. Too much furniture or clutter can actually make rooms feel smaller and less appealing.

Here’s what I personally experienced, and what you should consider when deciding whether to stage your home or show it vacant.

Staged vs. vacant homes. When I listed my home, it was staged correctly. We decluttered, removed personal photos, and adjusted the furniture, yet it still sat on the market longer than expected. Buyers said it was nice, but they wanted to keep looking.

Once my wife and I moved into our new home and the property was shown vacant, everything changed. The home sold the very next day, felt bigger and cleaner, and all three buyers who saw it immediately wanted to submit offers. Looking back, we wondered if we should have done this sooner.

This experience showed me that both staged and vacant homes can work, and there are a few important things to consider when deciding what’s best for your property.

1. Staged homes often look better online. Properly placed furniture helps buyers understand room size and layout from photos, which can drive more showings. That benefit disappears if the home is cluttered or poorly staged. Online presentation is critical.

2. Vacant homes can show better in person. Without furniture, buyers can see the true size of rooms. Spaces may feel larger, brighter, and cleaner. In my case, this conclusion came directly from buyer feedback after the home was shown vacant.

3. Virtual staging can help vacant homes online. One downside of vacant homes is how they photograph. Empty rooms can make it hard for buyers to judge scale and layout online. Virtual staging adds furniture digitally with proper sizing, helping the home show better online while keeping the benefits of a vacant home for in-person showings.

4. Talk with a trusted real estate professional. It’s hard to objectively decide whether your home should be staged with existing furniture, shown vacant, or paired with virtual staging. There is never any cost or obligation for a walkthrough. Based on what you have, a professional can help you determine the best approach.

There is no exact science to selling homes. While many sources say staging works, real-world results can vary. After many years in real estate and over 20 transactions, I can tell you every home is different. What works for one property may not work for another.

So, do staged homes sell faster than vacant homes? Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. In my case, my home sold faster once the furniture was gone. The key is choosing the strategy that highlights your home’s strengths and helps buyers see its potential.

If you have questions about whether to stage your home or show it vacant, or want guidance on what approach might work best for your property, don’t hesitate to reach out to (610) 709-5147 or email john@jrsrealtygroup.com. I’m always happy to help.