Get Outta Town

Dear Pat,
I’ve accepted a terrific job offer from an Australian firm that wants me to start immediately. The problem is, we have a house to sell. Should I abandon my husband, two kids and both dogs until the house is sold and they can join me, or would it be OK to sell a vacant house? It would be a hardship for us to be apart, but I’m concerned that a forlorn and empty house would sell for lots less. I’m excited, but…
-Nervous

Dear Nervous,
It may surprise you to learn that I have actually suggested selling a house empty when there is an active family to work around. It’s difficult to keep a house in proper showing condition with so much daily activity. Repairs, painting and deep cleaning are of course easier when the house is empty--and these details are essential to get top dollar in the marketplace. When the work is done, it stays fresh--no need to re-clean and get the dogs away for each show.

And a well-maintained, freshly painted house can look very appealing when empty, especially if we “stage” the home with rugs, pictures, window treatments and small furniture. Savvy agents have learned that staging is a great way to get the best offer for their clients. The advantage here is that buyers get a chance to see the rooms with a sense of scale, as opposed to empty space. The spare, clean look of small pieces in a room helps make it larger, and gives buyers a chance to visualize their own furniture in the spaces. Many times I have asked sellers to remove overstuffed, ungainly furniture from a room to create more of a blank canvass.

So no worries, Nervous--you should by all means pack up the family and get Down Under. Let your Realtor arrange for necessary repairs, painting, cleaning, and the myriad details of bringing you home to market. Your Realtor should help decide what household furnishings, if any, you may wish to leave behind to help with staging. Sign as many documents as possible before you leave, including a Power of Attorney authorization for your agent or trusted friend or family member. Rely on electronics and FedEx for the rest. Good luck!