Decorative pictures—not family portraits or pictures of your children—will also help the home to feel inviting, without being overpowering. Overall, a staged furnished home looks more spacious and attractive than one that is entirely empty. During the process of moving out, check with your home insurance agent to find out the homeowner's insurance coverage situation while your house is unoccupied. Usually, there is an insurance coverage difference in an “unoccupied” home (i.e., the owner is on an extended vacation) and a vacant home (no one is living there). Your current policy will determine whether additional or different insurance is necessary. As an extra security measure to ensure that your house will not be a spotlight for potential break-ins, have a burglar alarm that is battery-operated and sensor lights on the exterior.
UTILIZING A STORAGE UNIT
Logistics and expenses may preclude the owner from acquiring another residence during the home marketing and sale period. If moving out is not an option you can still achieve some of the advantages of selling an unoccupied home by renting a storage unit and putting away as many personal items and belongings as possible. This will also help you when you do move because your things will already be wrapped, boxed, and ready to go. Remove all personal items, anything of value, family pictures, bookshelves, decorations, and anything that has personal value to you. Furniture that would not work well with the showings should be removed, as well. It is best to make the house appear that you are not living in it. Having a storage unit, in this case, is your best bet, as you can easily store everything in one place and will not have to impose on friends or family to use their garage.
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