Whether you have a home for sale in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Park or another community, your Orlando Realtor® has probably already talked to you about staging, but how much do you really have to do – and how do you do it?
Here’s the scoop.
Why You Need to Stage Your Home
The numbers don’t lie: Staged homes sell faster – and for more money – than homes that aren’t staged. That means if you want to sell quickly and at the best possible price, it’s your job to make sure your home is as appealing to buyers as possible.
Our infographic shows exactly why.
4 Home Staging Secrets From the Pros
Staging is about more than cleaning (although that’s a big part of it). It takes a little planning and a decent amount of work to create the perfect environment for real estate photos and showings, but in the end, it’s all worth it. (Your agent can direct you to a professional home stager if you can’t, or don’t want to, do it yourself.)
Expert home stagers have four secrets that they don’t share with non-clients, but we’ve uncovered them and want to share them so you can sell your home at the best possible price (and in the least amount of time). Those secrets involve:
- Improving curb appeal
- Spotless cleaning
- Minimizing furniture
- Creating a neutral environment
Curb Appeal Matters More Than You Think
The first impression buyers get of your home is typically online, when they see your 3D tour or high-resolution photos on someone’s website. The second impression they get is when they pull up to the curb, and that impression is incredibly important – it can make or break the way they feel about your home.
Your home’s exterior needs to look fabulous, and it needs to invite potential buyers in to see more. Buyers need to get excited about your home the second they spot it from the car, and to make that happen, you have to:
- Cut the grass
- Pull the weeds
- Power-wash your sidewalk
- Add some color to the front porch by way of live, potted plants (if you don’t have them in the yard already)
- Clean your windows, porch and front door
Keep On Housekeeping
You want buyers to see that you’re able to maintain a spotless home all the time (even if you really do let a few things slip now and then), so your house has to be immaculately clean. If you don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself, it’s a good idea to hire a professional cleaning service so your home can put its best foot forward for potential buyers.
Before a showing, you have to:
- Dust
- Vacuum
- Spot-clean
- Make sure there’s no clutter (none at all) on counter tops or table tops
If you have pets, pick up their toys, litter boxes and food bowls. Take them (and your pets) with you when you leave!
Less Furniture is More… Really
When you’re staging your home, you want buyers to see an easy traffic flow within spacious rooms. They can’t envision their belongings in your space if your space looks cramped with furniture, so take out all non-essential pieces and put them in storage.
If you have furniture that’s seen better days, that needs to be the first to go – and aim for a minimalist look with everything else, too. Spare chairs (including cozy old recliners when there are other seats in the room), too-big tables and other furniture that makes your space look smaller or impedes traffic flow belongs in a storage unit, where it can sit until you move into your new home.
Neutral Appeals to Everyone
Take down family photos and anything that potential buyers might think is eccentric. You don’t want your home to be bland, but you don’t want it to be obvious that it’s yours, either. Again, buyers want to envision their belongings in your space; that’s tough when all they can see is your grandma smiling down from over the fireplace or they’re overwhelmed by your exceptionally large clown figurine collection.
Your agent can walk through your home with you to point out things that may not be a good fit for showings, so if you’re not sure about something, ask!
Are You Selling a Home in Orlando or the Surrounding Communities?
If you’re thinking about selling your home in Orlando or any of its suburbs, we can help. The first step is to find out how much your home is worth, so call us right away at 407-529-4621 or get in touch with us online. We’ll be able to value your home and tell you what it’s worth so you can make the right decision about selling.
If you’re also looking for a new home, check out our:
- Homes for sale in Alaqua Country Club
- Homes for sale at Bay Hill Club
- Country Club of Orlando homes for sale
- Homes for sale at Keenes Pointe Golf Club
- Isleworth Country Club homes for sale
- Sweetwater Golf and Country Club homes for sale
- Homes for sale at Heathrow and Legacy Clubs