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Should I Stage My Empty House Before Selling? The Numbers Might Surprise You
Tuesday 7th July 2026
If your property in Kent/South East London has been sitting on the market for weeks or even months, you may be wondering whether home staging is really worth the investment.
The short answer is yes.
In today's property market, buyers make decisions within seconds of viewing a listing online.
An empty property may seem like a blank canvas, but buyers often struggle to visualise room sizes, furniture layouts and how the home could feel when lived in. This can result in fewer enquiries, fewer viewings and lower offers.
The Current Property Market in Kent and South East London
Property sales are taking longer than many sellers expect.
Recent market data shows:
Properties in Kent spend an average of around 14 weeks on the market before selling.
Properties in Bromley also spend approximately 14 weeks on the market on average.
The average property value is approximately:
Kent: £444,424
Bromley: £619,458
Bexley: £514,542
Sevenoaks: £727,390
When competition is high and buyers have plenty of choice, presentation becomes more important than ever. Areas such as Sevenoaks and Bexley are currently described as balanced or buyer-friendly markets where purchasers can take their time and compare multiple properties.
Why Empty Properties Struggle to Sell
Many homeowners assume an empty property allows buyers to imagine their own furniture in the space.
In reality, the opposite is often true.
Buyers frequently find that vacant homes:
Feel smaller
Look cold and uninviting
Highlight flaws and maintenance issues
Feel neglected
Property purchasing is an emotional decision. Buyers don't simply buy square footage – they buy a lifestyle and a vision of their future home. Empty rooms fail to tell that story.
What Do the Statistics Say About Home Staging?
The latest UK home staging research reveals some impressive results:
Staged homes sell faster
According to property staging research, staged properties can sell up to three times faster than empty or unstaged homes.
Other industry data shows professionally staged homes spend approximately 24 days on the market compared with 69 days for unstaged properties.
Staged homes often achieve higher prices
Research from the Home Staging Association UK indicates that professionally staged homes can achieve 8-10% higher sale prices on average.
On a property valued at:
£500,000, that could represent an additional £40,000-£50,000
£700,000, that could represent an additional £56,000-£70,000
Of course, every property is different, but these figures demonstrate why developers and investors increasingly use home staging as part of their marketing strategy.
More viewings online
Over 90% of buyers begin their search online. Staged homes photograph better, attract more clicks and encourage potential buyers to arrange viewings.
The Cost of Leaving a Property Empty
Many sellers focus solely on the cost of staging.
However, they often overlook the cost of NOT staging.
When a property remains unsold, you may still be paying:
Council tax
Utilities
Insurance
Mortgage payments
Service charges
Property maintenance
In addition, properties that linger on the market often undergo price reductions.
Data for Kent shows asking prices are commonly reduced by around 2.2%, while Bromley properties see average reductions of around 1.8%.
For a £500,000 property, a 2% reduction equals £10,000—often far more than the cost of professional staging.
Why Home Staging Works
Professional home staging helps buyers:
✅ Understand room sizes
✅ See how spaces function
✅ Form an emotional connection
✅ Imagine themselves living in the property
✅ Perceive greater value
✅ Feel the property is move-in ready
These psychological benefits often translate into better offers and quicker sales.
Thinking of Selling an Empty Property in Kent?
Whether your property is in Bexley, Bromley, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Orpington, Maidstone or elsewhere in Kent, staging can help transform an empty house into a home buyers fall in love with.
At Farrow Home Staging, we specialise in staging vacant properties to maximise visual appeal, increase buyer interest and help sellers achieve a faster sale and the best possible price.
If your property has been sitting on the market with little interest, it may not be the price that's the problem—it could simply be the presentation.
Want to find out how staging could help your property stand out? Contact Farrow Home Staging today.