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Q: Do Vacant Homes Sell for More Money Than Staged Homes?

Vacant homes sell quicker and for more money than staged ones.

Almost every single time I meet with a seller, I get asked the same question: Do we meet your stager?  

My answer always makes them drop their shoulders and breathe a huge sigh of relief: Nope, no stager. We’ve found that a vacant house sells quicker and for more money than if that same house was staged. If you’ve already bought a new house that’s waiting for you, don’t feel inclined to keep your furniture in your old house. 

Buyers prefer turnkey homes, but the real reason vacant homes sell quicker and for more money is that they give the buyer the perception that the seller is paying two mortgages. In their mind, if the seller is paying for this house and the one they’ve just moved into, maybe they’re more motivated to accept their offer. This could be false, of course, but it’s still the reason vacant homes fetch offers quicker than staged homes.  

Don’t stress about having your home completely vacant, though. In terms of photography, your kitchen and living room shots are most important. If you worked with our team, for example, we’d have you clear everything off of your kitchen counters when we brought our photographer out to your home. Any knick knacks or other items that make your house feel like home should be put away. You can put everything back after the photo session is done, but the kitchen and living room should look like you’ve already moved out. 

In terms of photography, your kitchen and living room shots are most important.

Lastly, a word about exterior photos. Our photographer uses blended twilight shots, so we send him out during the mornings and evenings. If you look at our online listings, you might notice that the Texas skies—while very pretty—are probably not as pretty as the skies in our exterior photos. This is because our skies are photoshopped (as is the grass 😋). If you’re listing in the winter or fall and your grass is turning brown, don’t worry about it—we have you covered there.  All you have to focus on is the kitchen and living room; if you make these areas look vacant, you’re setting yourself up for success. 

As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help. 

Alexis Weigand

Recognized industry-wide as a person of influence, Alexis Weigand is renowned for her passion, leadership and steadfast commitment to consistently producing a high level of achievement. A native Texan from Boerne, Alexis is also widely known for her energy, professionalism, and knowledge of the San Antonio and Hill Country Luxury real estate market. Over thirteen years as a top-producing Broker in San Antonio Alexis Weigand has earned a reputation as the go-to luxury Realtor in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Alexis is an experienced bilingual Real Estate broker who has managed hundreds of transactions for both domestic and international clients alike. Alexis began her career in Austin in 2005 and then joined forces with her father as an associate broker at W.K. Shumpes Company in Boerne. When Keller Williams opened their first ever luxury real estate office, Alexis saw the opportunity to partner with the #1 real estate agency in North America as a way to exponentially grow and expand her business and better serve her clients. Since joining KWLI, the Alexis Weigand Real Estate Group has continuously outpaced and negotiated the market, receiving multiple awards and recognitions over the years including No.1 Agent in Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch for fastest home sales, KW Top Team Awardee, No. 1 KW Listing Agent per number of homes sold and volume sold for two consecutive years, and Platinum Top 50 Winner to name a few. Alexis largely credits this success to a unique approach to a team concept where each team member is extremely efficient by focusing on their individualized areas of expertise. For her, real estate is about the people AWRE serves – and helping them achieve their goals and build wealth through real estate. Alexis’ greatest passion is developing leaders and teaching. She can regularly be found in the classroom educating new and seasoned real estate agents. Always wanting to be remembered most as someone who made things better. Alexis strives to keep learning each day by committing herself and her team members to high-level business coaching and training programs to stay ahead of the curve. When Alexis is not championing the San Antonio Luxury market, she's likely to be somewhere outdoors with her husband Chris and their three children, Carter, Cade, and Elise. As an avid business reader, there's a good chance you'll also find her at the gym, working out and listening to a good audiobook about leadership! Specialties: - ALHS, Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Certifications: - Broker - Broker Associate - CRS®, Certified Residential Specialist® - GRI, Graduate REALTOR® Institute - CLHMS, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist - Institute for Luxury Home Marketing - Texas Realtors Leadership Program - IMSD, Internet Marketing Specialist Designation Awards: - Centurion Award Winner 2014-2019 - 2018 Top Team - Keller Williams Realty City View - 2018 Platinum Award - Keller Williams Realty City View - 2018 Top Growth Partner - Keller Williams Realty City View Industry Organizations: - NAR, National Association of Realtors - TAR, Texas Association of Realtors - SABOR, San Antonio Board of Realtors - NBCLAR, New Braunfels/Canyon Lake Association of REALTORS - REALTORS® Land Institute (RLI) Council - CRS, Council of Certified Residential Specialists Community Involvement Types: - Local: Organization, Association or Club - National: Organization, Association or Club Community Involvement Organizations: - Dallas Children's Advocacy Center - Habitat for Humanity, ALC - National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Congregation Rodfei Sholom of San Antonio Texas - American Lung Association - Children's Hospital of San Antonio - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - American Heart Association - 100 Women of South Texas - SA2020 - Product Council of Urban Land - SNIPSA - Homes for Our Troops - MD Anderson Cancer Center - Ryan's Well Foundation

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