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?

We were in this exact situation. We removed about 2/3 of the furniture and rearranged it and removed all the clutter. We then brought some of our stuff over to make the most of the place - nice white bedsheets, matching cushions to minimise the tired old sofas and chairs, that sort of thing. We removed the old fashioned curtains and bought new lampshades - spent about £150 total. Then deep clean. It totally revamped the place and it looked quite nice afterwards and about double the size - though clearly still a doer upper. Sold in a timely fashion.

My sellers were moving elderly parent into a care home. Once we were going through with the purchase they started clearing the house and I would get regular emails asking if we'd like certain items. The house was a big step up for us so it was really helpful to get ladders, big work bench in the garage, garden tools and so on given to us. It was all decent stuff as we'd seen on viewing rather than them dumping crap on us. Anything we didn't want was removed before we moved in.

They were amazing sellers and we are still in touch many years later.

I think do whatever you can agree on. I don't think it matters the furniture is old fashioned, but if it was filthy that might put me off.

I took out all personal things and left all furniture ( didn't have display cabinets )
House sold and they asked for some furniture to be included in the sale .

I would just leave basic furniture and remove the rest.

This
and makes them realise they might get a better deal

We cleared a third of the furniture from each room and put white linen on the beds and white towels in bathrooms. All the ‘elderly’ ornaments were taken out and replaced with more age-neutral things. Photos removed. Older chairs and sofas have quilts and cushions on them. I bought some white silk flowers and plants. Not my taste but they do have a more contemporary look.

The house has been praised for presentation and looks bright and welcoming. We are waiting to exchange.

I'd leave furniture in, except perhaps removing the china cabinets as mentioned. I would even keep a bed made to give the impression that someone stays there regularly.

I'd be concerned about a dubious estate agent or even more so someone looking at a house to give information to a burglar or squatter.

I would leave beds, sofa and kitchen table type furniture that everyone uses to show room size. Get rid of ornament cabinets etc.

I bought a probate house that had all the furniture in when I viewed. They actually left me a few bits, which was agreed beforehand, they didn't just dump it on me! But it was useful to have a cupboard and arm chairs while I decorated and could then replace at my leisure.

I’m currently buying a house of a 90 yr old couple that have moved into care. I could definitely see past the furniture, and found in particular beds, esp in smaller rooms, very helpful, so you can get sense of what fits. And also sofa in front room, table in dining room. The kids had given it a lick of paint in places which also helped it not look tired (just a bit dated).

small things- i remember a tray in kitchen with Kettle, teabags and biscuits, and a small vase with daffs. It made place feel like you were buying someone’s home, and not a museum.

Beds, sofas left in can easily be updated with some fresh modern, plain bedding and a throw/cushions draped! Add some plants!

We too are doing the same. My DM is an EA and always says empty houses are more difficult to sell.

Yes, this, so each room has a purpose.

Thank you. I think we may do the same. Keep all functional furniture, move other furniture and bits and clear the clutter and personal items, deep clean and then get the agents out to take the photos.

I think to an extent it will depend on who’s likely to be viewing it. If it’s a bungalow that might be appealing to an older couple downsizing, then fussy, dated furniture may be less of an issue than FTBs.

Thanks everyone. I think I know what we should do now. Clear all the old fashioned furniture and clutter, personal items and just leave some functional furniture - sofa, dining table, beds. Then deep clean and set it up nicely as we can for viewings.

I think that a blank canvas is better.
I sometimes feel sad when I see a house that an older person has clearly lived in for a very long time with all their personal possessions still in place. It can seem like someone couldn't wait to get it on the market ( there may be a very good reason for this, I know), it's just my opinion.

Yes, especially teddies placed on single beds😞 that always makes me feel sad for some reason..

Having had the awful experience of buying a house where they’d left all the furniture in then removed it at the last minute but not bothered cleaning, I will never buy a house with furniture in it again. It was so dirty and difficult to know that as they’d clearly cleaned around but not moved furniture since 1975!

Yes I do agree with this. My parents have personal possessions such as teddies on beds that we will be removing. I will have to remove their personal stuff and personalities from the house which will be sad. 😞 We will strip the house of most things and just leave some key bits of furniture.

It will be so sad doing this. The house was our childhood home and we grew up here. But now both parents have gone the soul has left the house and it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Ideally would love another family to buy it and make their own new memories here in a house that has meant so much to us

I found it easier once the personal things had gone. It feels like a project now.

It was the family home for 59 years.

For me empty.

Most houses we have looked at have been probate and they are empty and I by FAR prefer it.

We have looked at a small amount of lived in properties and they have been awful, no offense to people but clutter in the way, smells, the weird tours... its a surreal bizarre experience and useless for actually seeing the structure your buying.

Furniture hides problems, it literally stops you seeing the issues. I wouldn't want to buy a furnished/lived in house as you have no idea what you are really getting and even a survey is pretty useless as they will not move stuff. Just feels like a trap and I tend to by pass them.

For the sake of a couple of hundred quid it would be worth buying plain, modern duvet covers, pillow cases and throws from Dunelm to replace and cover any dated floral beds and sofa, chairs.
Remove all knick knacks and personal stuff.

An EA will always tell you it's easier to sell a house with furniture in it then all empty rooms. You'd think the rooms would look bigger when empty but actually the opposite is true. It helps to have sofas and beds and dining tables etc in situ so people can get a sense of scale and proportion. It's really hard to photograph empty rooms well too.

Furnished: lots of people have no imagination (any scuffs, scrapes, usual wear and tear on a home are also much more obvious in an empty house).

I got some bargains on White Company and M&S Autograph bed linen on Vinted and eBay. New, without tags, etc.