Staging a vacant home may not be necessary in some circumstances, but a thorough cleaning & fresh paint job can show potential buyers how they can love it as their own.  13.9% of all housing units in the U. S. were vacant at the end of the 4th quarter of 2011, according to the U. S. Census Bureau.  Plus staging won’t matter if the HOUSE IS OVERPRICED.  Again vacant houses are dismal & lifeless, so a few pieces of furniture, towels in the bathrooms, artwork, plants and a new welcome mat at the front door can give a house a lift.  Buyers often think of vacant houses as foreclosures or short sales, but if not say that.  Just cleaning and decluttering a house will help sell a house.  E-mail for a more complete list.