7 Tips To Avoid The Vacant Home Look

Selling a home that is vacant can be harder than selling a lived-in home. Here are some ideas that you should consider to protect an empty property and get it sold.

[1] Give the house a lived-in look. Get a neighbor or family member to make the house look occupied by parking a car in the driveway, opening and closing the drapes and taking in any mail.

[2] Groom the yard. Use a lawn service during the summer to keep the grass cut and a snow removal service in the winter to scrape the walks and driveway.

[3] No outstanding nicks. Hide the effects of missing furniture. Paint and replace rugs so there are no faded spots or blemishes on the walls. Cover accent paint that alone looks odd.

[4] Leave some furniture. A few chairs, tables, lamps and beds (or empty mattress boxes with spreads) give buyers a sense of space.

[5] Keep the utilities on. Set the thermostat at a comfortable level during the winter and summer.

[6] Hire a maid. Make sure the home remains spotless.

[7] Check the homeowner's policy. Understand the coverage when the home is vacant.