Would an empty house put you off?

[LizzieMint]

As Kirsty was saying on best of both worlds yesterday? Bit concerned as we are hoping to sell our house after we've moved out of it, for various reasons. So would a house being empty put you off making an offer? Or would the fact that there's no chain/no delays make up for it?

[keely79]

We moved out of ours but left it furnished when we sold (i.e. nicely decorated, duvets on beds, ornaments, etc) . Had advantage that all of our mess belongings were out of the way and we weren't perpetually tidying in case of viewings.

[oscarwilde]

We pretty much have to move into rented, while we house-hunt in the new area, it's too far away to really be able to do that from here. And OH doesn't want to take the risk of this house selling straight away and us not being able to find something else for ages, so losing out on any housing market increases in the meantime
So decision made surely?

[LoveVintage]

I am watching this with interest. We have just put our house on the market. We are going to be buying my late father in law's house once ours sells. At the moment we intend to live here until it sells. We did wonder if we should move out and sell this unfurnished.

It is an old property so has all the flaws you would expect, so I think looks better furnished. But it has been pointed out that some viewers might not have the vision to imagine the property with their belongings in it, which might put them off.

So all in all, not any less confused by what people are saying here! Actually I do think only sell it empty if it is in good decorative order with no obvious issues.

[HaveToWearHeels]

OP then I wouldn't worry about having it empty for sale. It is a good time of year too regarding the weather, you wouldn't need to heat the house, so no one would be walking into a cold, damp house.

[LizzieMint]

Argh, so confused as to what to do now! We pretty much have to move into rented, while we house-hunt in the new area, it's too far away to really be able to do that from here. And OH doesn't want to take the risk of this house selling straight away and us not being able to find something else for ages, so losing out on any housing market increases in the meantime.
Our house is fairly new (~15 years old) and most has been decorated in the last couple of years (anything that hasn't, we're doing before we put on market anyway), plus a new kitchen.

[hiccupgirl]

Def think about any flaws showing up more once it's empty.

We looked at a lovely house that the owner's had moved out of because their sale had called through and they'd had to move. They wanted an offer at the same as the one they got when they were still living there. Problem was once the house was empty you could easily see where they'd carpeted and wallpapered round big furniture in most of the rooms - it meant the whole house needed recarpeting or redecorating. They couldn't understand why this meant we weren't going to offer the same as their previous offer. We bought a different house in the end.

[oscarwilde]

You could do this

[MillyMollyMama]

I think if it is empty it has to be pretty immaculate. Lived in and cluttered is not good either. TV programmes usually make a big issue about furnishing a room to show its purpose. I think there is some merit in this and lots of people do lack imagination and judge furniture! If it will sell like hot cakes, then you may not have to worry. Depends on the market so ask your agent.

[CharleyFarnsbarns]

Yes the houses we saw had furniture in the pictures then were empty in RL so they looked very sad and abandoned.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Thanks. This thread had me worried there for a minute,,. After all our hard work wondering if we should all move back in till it's sold!

But imagine buying a house where no-one has pooed in the loo . And a totally cleeeeeean new oven.

Getting it valued on fri and hopefully on the market in a few weeks. Just need to buy some pots and plants for the yard.

[CharleyFarnsbarns]

If it was all new then I think it'd look lovely and you wouldn't need to add furniture to hide any bad bits. Good luck.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

But what if the house has been completely renovated? We moved out of my house into dp's house last year and he gutted mine, put an attic room in, replastering,all new skirting, new door etc.
Couldn't have lived in it while that was going on. Whoever buys it will be getting a brand newly refurbished house with new floors, walls, kitchen, bathroom etc.
Surely that's a plus point, not a reason for a buyer to put a lower offer in?
We are in not desperate to sell as its a small house in a town with cheap housing so very little mortage on it.

[BrownSauceSandwich]

I bought one house from empty. I do think it's harder to judge scale in an empty room, but most of all, I'd be asking myself "why does the vendor not want to live here?"

[thegraduand]

We've just sold ours when it was empty. We were expecting problems, but it sold within a week

[NotGoodNotBad]

In fact, out of 7 flats/houses we made offers on I think 4 or 5 were empty.

[NotGoodNotBad]

I prefer to see empty houses - I can imagine myself in them more easily than when they have someone else's furniture. And I don't have a problem assessing the size of rooms.

But I acknowledge I'm probably weird.

[polkadotdelight]

I prefer to view a furnished house as I have difficulty with spatial/judging sizes. DH prefers unfurnished because it's harder to hide things.

[Nojustalurker]

No but a property can easily become cold and small problems can arise without notice. Will you be doing the viewings or relying on estate agents. Some estate agents are shocking at viewings.

[HauntedNoddyCar]

We bought ours unoccupied. DH is convinced fewer people were interested because it was empty.

[Bambi75]

I'd be careful - you might put people off even more if what they see is a 'home' in the marketing and they view it empty and are underwhelmed. Agents I've spoken to about this in the past have always advised against this. Its better that what potential buyers see in the marketing materials - furnished or empty - is actually what they get when they view it.

[LizzieMint]

I found an old thread on the same topic and one of the suggestions was having the photos done while the house is lived in, and then obviously it would be empty for viewings. Sounds like a good plan? I think the advantages to us of moving out into rented are too great to forgoe really.

[Forago]

Almost all of the properties I have owned or rented I have viewed empty - I prefer it as you can see the real size of the room and determine whether your furniture would fit etc. I like blank canvases and hate clutter - a furnished, cluttered place puts me off not an empty space.

[cafesociety]

I only buy properties that are empty. I get a better idea of the size and shape of the rooms and see all the otherwise hidden bits. It is a more honest house when seen without being tarted up.

I'm also happier a place has been vacated so no one can change their minds/delay exchange etc. and there isn't a chain. It's always worked for me.

[oscarwilde]

I think if the whole place has had a good scrub and been freshly repainted in something light it can be a very good thing. It will instantly look bigger for one which if the buyers have no imagination is good.
Otherwise as someone has said, it can all look a bit sad.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Sorry missed the bit abut insurance earlier