How Much Selling Your Investment Property Empty Could Be Costing You - Are You Maximising Your Exit Strategy OR Just Minimising Effort?

If you're preparing to sell an investment property in Perth, there's one detail that could be quietly draining thousands from your final sale price: listing it empty.

It might seem like the most straightforward or cost-effective option, especially once tenants vacate, but selling a vacant property can significantly limit your return. And yet, we’re still seeing a steady trend of investors offloading properties the moment they’re empty, without any strategic presentation in place.

Here’s why that could be a costly mistake — and how to fix it.

Empty

Staged

First Impressions Count

When buyers walk into an empty property, the space can feel cold, lifeless, and hard to connect with. It becomes difficult to gauge the true scale of rooms, imagine furniture placement, or get a feel for how the home could live.

That lack of connection can create hesitation, limit emotional engagement, and ultimately drive lower offers. It can also result in more time on the market  and more holding costs for you.

In contrast, a professionally staged home feels warm, welcoming, and aspirational. It helps buyers picture themselves living there, how they’d use the space, where their furniture would go, how their lifestyle would fit. That emotional connection often translates directly to a higher sale price.

The Numbers: What’s the Real Cost of Selling Empty?

As of April 2025, Perth’s median house price is sitting around $770,000, according to REIWA (source). Data from staging providers and real estate agents across the city shows that staging can increase the final sale price by 2% to 5%.

That’s an extra $15,400 to $38,500 on a median-priced property.

Now compare that to the cost of staging, which typically ranges from $2,800 to $4,500 depending on the size and layout of the home.

Let’s say you invest $3,000 in staging and sell for just 3% more — that’s $23,100 extra in your pocket, for a net gain of $20,100. That’s not an expense. That’s smart strategy.

It’s Not Just About Price — It’s About Time, Too

Vacant properties often take longer to sell. The longer your property sits on the market, the more you pay in holding costs: mortgage interest, council rates, insurance, and more.

Staging doesn’t just boost perceived value it can shorten time on market, reducing your out-of-pocket during the selling process.

Make Your Exit Strategy Work Harder

As a property investor, your goal is to maximise return at every stage and the exit is no exception. Staging is one of the simplest and most effective ways to position your property for a successful sale, even in a competitive market.

The next time a tenant vacates and you're thinking of listing the property as-is, ask yourself:

Are you maximising your exit strategy or just minimising effort?