Showing Your Home - Vacant vs Occupied

Selling, buying, or renting a vacant vs. occupied home can both be deal-makers or deal-breakers. Knowing the pros and cons of both can help everyone in the transaction. Let's talk about the pros and cons of a vacant house, and then we will address occupied.

Vacant Home Pros:

• - Its easier to show. You get to see every inch of the house in its pure form. Nothing is hidden or overlooked. Maneuvering around the home is better, and it's ready whenever the client is ready to move in.
• - It's easier to clean and less involvement in maintaining it.
• - Cut the power off. It is nice walking into a vacant home that is cool and well lit, but from an owner standpoint, it will save money if the owner has a 2nd property.
• -These homes are typically called SHOW and Go houses. An agent and potential client can come and go as pleased. They are usually not required to leave immediately after the show.
• -Some people need to see the home vacant because it may affect their decisions in who will clean the property. Some clients want to move in now and think that the sellers need more time that the buyer may not have.

Vacant Home Cons:

• - Easier targets for vandalism, squatters, and the homeless.
• -Sometimes a vacant home doesn't have that warm fuzzy feeling. Some buyers need a house fully furnished so they can map out their furniture.
• -Some vacant homes give off a sense of desperation or a sense of urgency.

Now let's talk about occupied homes.

Occupied Home Pros:

• - A great selling point. It gives the buyers a great visual of how their future home will be. It may even inspire them to try new things or copy an idea.
• - Your home will not be more acceptable to crimes, squatters, and vandalism. Homeless people will be less likely to find your property as a resting area.
• -You can judge how the person kept up the property when you see how they kept their items.
• -It could be a good time for the buyer and seller to meet each other.
• - The seller can fix issues with the property before moving out.

Occupied Home Cons:

• - If the property is not clean, it can distract the buyer and even kill the deal.
• - It may not be easy to maneuver around the house.
• - Sometimes you will have to leave immediately. Also, the owners might walk in or even have a hoarding problem.
• - If the seller is not people-friendly or too nervous about people being around their personal belongings, it can cause the client to lose interest.
• - There may be hidden defects that could be costly and affect the deal.

There are more pros and cons to both. Every experience and every client is different. It's hard to say which is best and I don't think it makes a difference either way. A seasoned and skilled agent should know how to handle any situation thrown at them.

Call me today to see your dream home - vacant or occupied!