If you live in Orlando as I do, then you know that loving in the “City Beautiful” means that you’ll have no shortage of friends and relatives wanting to visit you and probably will at some point. That means getting your home in tip-top “show ready” condition.
If your property is on the market and your goal is to sell your Orlando home fast for top dollar, it means your home needs to be ready to show at a moment’s notice. You can never change the first impression and if you think otherwise, it could cost you a potential buyer.
It’s like the old saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover”, but in real estate, if people don’t like the cover [the front of your house], they won’t want to pay as much for your book or even worse…they might lose interest altogether and never even walk inside.
If you’re looking to sell your Orlando home for top dollar, here are simple, low-cost ideas you can use to maximize your home’s first impression.
1-Clean And Remove Clutter- Start by removing any furniture and other items that may cause your home to look cluttered and small into your garage or storage. This is also a great time to throw out or donate things that you don’t use or need.
The next step is to clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Be certain that every surface in the home is as clean as possible. Having your carpets shampooed by a professional is worth the investment and can make your home look cleaner and leave it smelling fresh.
2-Touch Up The Paint- Go through the entire house and touch up any scratches and chipped paint on the walls. If you have some over-powering or dark colors, you may want to consider repainting those walls with a more neutral color. Remember, this isn’t about your taste and what you like, It’s about getting your house sold.
3-Fix the Little Things- Go around your house with a caulking gun in one hand and your toolbox in the other. Fix the things that you’ve been “meaning to get around to” for the past 3 years. Some missing caulk here and a leaky faucet there can give a potential buyer the impression that the home hasn’t been regularly maintained.
By eliminating all the little things that are wrong with the house, you can eliminate any worries the buyer has about having to do the repairs himself or paying someone else to do them.
4-Update Old Fixtures- Replacing old and tarnished fixtures can go a long way in giving your kitchen and bathrooms a facelift. Fixtures are relatively cheap and will give the room an element of something new.
5-Replace The Light Bulbs- If you’re like me, you’ve probably replaced all or most of your original light bulbs in your house with energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs. The problem is that they don’t always provide the best lighting to highlight your home’s best features. Use bright, warm lighting to make sure the home shows the way it was intended to.
6-Dealing With Pets- It’s always a good idea to remove your pets from the home when showing your property. Even if the potential buyer is an animal lover, they’re not there to see your house not visit with your animals. If it’s not possible to have them out of the house, put them in the garage or at least a crate when buyers are present.
7-Curb Appeal- Have the outside or at least the front of your home looks its best. Keep the grass mowed, trees and shrubs trimmed, and maybe even plant some colorful flowers in front. Touch up any worn-out or chipped paint on the front door and remove any clutter. The entrance should be inviting so buyers will want to continue on to the inside.
By making sure that your home looks the best that it can, you can avoid potential buyers looking to nit-pick in hopes of beating you up on the price. If you would like to know how much your Orlando home will sell for in today’s market, feel free to use our home valuation tool with absolutely no charge or obligation.
