Staging, Vacant Houses, and Lazy Agents

Yesterday, a couple of us went on our regular tour of new listings in the area. It was a shock to see the difference among the properties for sale. The sky was overcast, and the cold and cheerless feeling of walking into a locked and unheated house didn't help. The dark, bare rooms accentuated all the negatives in these houses, and the lack of a listing agent there to greet us...and perhaps point out unseen positive features such as copper plumbing...made for a quick departure. With no heat on a chilly day, the interior of these vacant houses can be 10 or 15 degrees colder than outside. Our tour rules in the local board of Realtors do not require the listing agent to be present if the house is vacant, but...
Contrast these houses to properties that were warm, beautifully staged, and well lit. The listing agent was there to greet us and answer questions, and was prepared with colorful flyers describing the home's features. Often refreshments were set up in the kitchen or patio to induce us to linger, and to remember that house when we showed properties...so much positive enforcement for so little effort!