Selling parents property. To leave it furnished or empty it for viewings?

[Friestogo]

Not sure whether to leave the furniture in so that prospective buyers can see how they could use the space or to fully empty it?

Would an empty house put you off? Would you rather see it with the furniture in?

I’d leave the basic furniture in, as it helps show the size of the room in context.

Thanks. I was thinking that but the furniture is quite old fashioned and my Brother was thinking maybe it would be best to show it as a blank canvas.

I guess it depends on the furnishings to some extent. When my DM passes I plan to empty it as her furniture is dated and worn. Sometimes people can't envision the space when it's cluttered with other's belongings. If the furnishings in the house are more modern then maybe leave some of them there, but strip back any ornaments or clutter/leave surfaces clear?

EDIT: cross posted. In that case I too would clear it.

I actually agree with your brother. I think a blank canvas is better, particular when it’s the home of elderly people who have passed away.

I would empty it if the furniture is old fashioned.
I did this with grandparents and parents homes.
Cleared of furniture then paid cleaning firm to do a really thorough clean once everything was out.

I would not leave ‘old person died here ‘ type furniture there. It makes the viewer feel sad in my experience.

If it was empty, I wouldn’t furnish it specifically to sell it. However as you have some furniture you might as well make use of it.

I’d clear out some of it and leave the basics. E.g a bed in each bedroom. Sofa and chair in the lounge etc. You don’t want it too cluttered. It doesn’t matter if a bit dated. The buyers know it will be cleared when they buy, but it helps them understand what they could fit into each space.

We took photographs with basic furniture but had emptied the house by the time probate came. The offer that went through was after the house was emptied.
i felt that having the photographs but an empty house was the best combination - people could see where the sofa and dining table could go whilst not being faced with living as a 95 year old.

The furniture is dated and old fashioned. Think china cabinets etc but the actual house as in walls and floor are neutral and okay and in good nick. The kitchen and bathroom are fairly modern too so maybe best to just show the space and rooms.

Both ways are valid, really depends on the viewer and no way you will know what they prefer beforehand.

I would remove all personal bits and any clutter but leave basic furniture. If a buyer can see eg sofa could go here, table and chairs there it can be easier to visualise for them. Make clear property will be sold without those items, they are just for viewing purposes.

Is the house itself modern or would it be a “fixer upper” for potential buyers?

When I say basic furniture I really just mean beds, sofa(s), dining table and chairs. I’d take out most of the rest.

Actually that is a good idea. To set the house up as best we can for photos but then empty it so people can actually see both.

China cabinets etc - get rid off. If you’re going to leave furniture just leave the basic items.

Show bedrooms with a bed, as they can be hard to imagine.
Living room with a sofa (and nothing else), dining area with table and chairs. Leave white goods in situ esp if the wall behind is grim.

Everything else clear out completely so no odd chairs, side tables, nicknacks, mobility aids etc.

Although you might want to leave a kettle and a few mugs

It’s fairly modern. Not a fixer upper as such as the kitchen and bathroom are modern and carpets neutral but it does have some peeling wallpaper in a few places but it’s not too bad overall. The furniture is a mixture of a few modern pieces but also lots of old fashioned sideboards and china cabinets which I think may have to go as it clutters up the space.

DH cleared his parents house recently and was told by the estate agent to leave the furniture in place

People can see past old fashioned furniture, but totally empty rooms throw them. It's hard to work out the size of a space without something in it as a reference.
Like the pp said, I'd take out the knick-knacks and anything that gets in the way. Are there too many side tables, ornaments, cushions, pictures? Leave sofa, sideboard, dining table and chairs, beds and bedside tables. Maybe a mirror or two. You are dressing it to sell it. Like a stage set. Show them how the room can be used.
A totally empty house also sounds echoey and feels unloved.

Thanks. I think this might be best. Just clearing the furniture that has no purpose and just leaving some key items.

You can dress old-style beds with modern duvet covers, sofas with cushions/throws and dining tables with a table cover or table settings.
I'd take out anything that can't be made to look a bit more modern.

Is there any scope to temporarily add some smaller items from your own furnishings?

We're currently buying a probate house and it was mainly empty. They'd left beds in the bedrooms which was helpful just in terms of gauging the size, ditto the dining table they left in the dining room. They'd take all the other furniture - it would have been nice to see the living room with sofas as that's the other "big" furniture where it's good to see how it fits, what the remaining floor space is like etc. But maybe it wasn't in good condition, looked old/dated, or was far too big for the room so actually made it look smaller.
The beds and dining table were very neutral so I can see why they left them.

The estate agent advised leaving beds, sofas and dining table & chairs - the rest has been totally cleared, save a mirror above the fireplace.

Does whether it's empty of furniture affect how much council tax you have to pay? It did for us

I bought a probate house 3 years ago and my son is buying one at the moment.

the house I bought was empty just some stuff left in the garage which they removed before we moved in. I liked the empty canvas feel to it, it felt like a new beginning. But the sellers repainted some areas (this was obviously done because the skirting wasn’t or the ceiling and the paint so fresh. They had cleaners in and sugar soaped everything the house was immaculate. During the buying process we met the son and I commented on how well presented the property was and he told me how they achieved it. He also mentioned it took a lot of work but it meant he could channel his grief into it and now he can sell it happily because it doesn’t feel like his parents home anymore.

my son, the house when we viewed it felt like the lady could walk in at any moment. We knew she had passed and it felt almost disrespectful seeing her life around us like that. My son went back again last week so DIL could measure up and what have you. She told me that most of the personal stuff was cleared and a few bits of furniture and she felt she was intruding so much. We know the house needs a lot of work, but she also mentioned that moving the bits they had made the house look even more in need of work. But then they know that and it’s reflected in the price etc. The sellers have also contacted them and said they can now have anything they would like free, just put a red sticker pack left on the dinning table, on what they want. Mixed views on that, son doesn’t want to DIL says beggars can’t be choosers, they have selected the dinning table and chairs and the have said to leave any garden stuff they want - lawn mower etc. it does help first time buyers out it also reduces what you need to clear.

In that case I’d definitely leave beds in bedrooms etc. I’d divide it by functional furniture that people expect to find in that room which you leave and decorative furniture that is more personal to your parents’ taste which you take out.

Those who buy fixer uppers are usually looking past any furniture but for modern houses people may want more of a feel of the rooms in use.

I am really bad at picturing room size without something to compare to. If there is a sofa in the room I can see mine is a bit smaller so will look fine, but if there isn’t my brain struggles to visualise it.

I arranged a total clearance of a house I had to sell under these circumstances. Family had already been to take anything they wanted so there was a weird arrangement of what was left. Decided it would be better as a blank canvas.