To Decorate Or Not To Decorate When Selling Your Orlando / Central Florida Home

 

We’re into the holidays, hard to believe! How can that affect the presentation of your Orlando home for sale?

You have the opportunity to make your house stand out on the block with some colorful décor. Who doesn't stop for a beat and think "That's nice" when they see corn stalks, pumpkins, and mums clustered around a gate post or an entry door?

Inside, holiday décor can lend a festive air and create a joyful atmosphere – something everyone wants to feel in their own home. It could be just the thing that makes a prospective buyer think "This is home."

Each holiday presents that opportunity – but do be cautious.

Homeowners who go "all out" in decorating could be harming, rather than helping the presentation of their homes.

Why? Because when it's over-done, visitors will focus on the decorations instead of the house. In some cases, décor can even hide some of a home's best features, while making rooms appear small and over-crowded.

So decorate. Add some lively color and create a festive mood. But keep a light touch. You want those visitors to focus on your home, not your decorating skills.

- Cathy Starkweather, Realtor 

Investment Home Specialist / Orlando Top Producer

cathystarkweather@gmail.com / 407.274.8476

Regal Palms Resort and Spa Floor Plans

3 Bedroom / 3 Bath with 1,492 heated square feet - All three are on-suites! One full downstairs on-suite and both bedrooms upstairs have garden tub/shower combo. One upstairs bedroom has a balcony. Stackable washer and dryer space downstairs.

3 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath Antigua Model with 1,457 heated square feet - In this floor plan, there's a lot of living space downstairs along with a half bath. All bedrooms are upstairs and bedroom 2 and 3 share a bathroom. The master bathroom has a garden tub/shower combo. There is room in this floor plan for a full size washer and dryer upstairs.

4 Bedroom / 3 Bath - Jamaica Model with 1492 heated square feet - Offers a bedroom and full on-suite bathroom downstairs. A stackable washer/dryer space downstairs. Three bedrooms upstairs and two share a full bath upstairs. 

4 Bedroom / 3 and a 1/2 bath - Bermuda Model with 1,856 heated square feet. All the building end units are this floor plan, the only way to have a townhome at either end of the building is to purchase this floor plan. This has it all - all the extra living space downstairs plus an oversized full on-suite in addition to a 1/2 bath downstairs. There's room for a full size washer and dryer upstairs. The master upstairs has a garden tub and private lanai. The two bedrooms upstairs have a shared bathroom.

Have more questions about Regal Palms or other resort communities in the Disney area? Call, email or text me - 

Cathy Starkweather

REALTOR & Vacation / Investment Home Specialist

La Rosa Realty, LLC, Celebration, FL

CathyStarkweather@gmail.com 

+01.407.274.8476

3 REASONS WHY SOME ORLANDO HOMES DON'T SELL

You've heard that Orlando is experiencing a seller's market. There are more people looking for homes than homeowners wanting to sell.

That means every house that's offered will sell quickly and for top dollar, right? No, that isn't the case. Even in a hot seller's market, some homes will remain unsold. 

Homes in Orlando fail to sell for 3 primary reasons:

• The Price
• The Pictures
• The Sellers

THE PRICE: Buyers want to buy, but they don't want to pay more than market value. Today's buyers are well-informed. They've been looking at homes on line and comparing them perhaps for weeks before choosing the homes they want to see. 

So, if a house is badly overpriced, they aren't interested. Yes, they can always make a much lower offer, but many prefer not to get involved in what they see as a hassle. 

In addition, even if the buyers are willing, their bank won't be willing. If they're getting a home mortgage loan to buy a house, it will have to appraise for at least the amount of the loan. 

THE PICTURES: Because more than 90% of all home buyers begin their search on line, the pictures your agent posts are of vital importance. The descriptions he or she writes make a difference, but it's the pictures that catch buyers' eyes and cause them to stop and learn more.

Unless an agent is a talented real estate photographer, he or she should hire a professional for this task. It is THAT important. 

THE SELLERS: That might sound strange, but sometimes home sellers are their own worst enemies.  They can prevent a home from selling in several ways: 

• Insisting on a too-high price
• Refusing to do clean-up, fix-up, and de-cluttering
• Making no effort to have the house clean and ready when buyers arrive
• Refusing to vacate the house while it is being shown
• Limiting days and hours when the house can be shown
• Refusing to negotiate

Whether we're in a buyers' market or a sellers' market, homes sell faster and for more money when homeowners and their agents work together, each doing their part. 

When you choose me to bring your Orlando home to market, I'll show you the true market value, make the house look its best on line, and work with you every step of the way. 

If you'd like to learn about my marketing plan, just get in touch. I'd love to talk with you. 

SOLD! 3 Bed Home In Celebration, FL - 1233 Golden Canna Lane

NEW LISTING AND OPEN HOUSE! Renovated 3-bedroom home in the highly sought after community of Celebration, #Disney. Updates include - New quartz countertops throughout; vinyl plank flooring downstairs; carpet upstairs; new A/C unit; full interior paint; all new knobs/pulls/fittings/fixtures and more! Don't miss out, view this home during an open house - today, July 3rd - 5-7pm or tomorrow, July 4th 10-noon!

SOLD! Successful Short Term Rental In Regal Palms Resort

To Decorate Or Not To Decorate? Presenting your Orlando home for sale during the Holidays...

We’re almost into the holidays, hard to believe! How can that affect the presentation of your Orlando home for sale?

You have the opportunity to make your house stand out on the block with some colorful décor. Who doesn't stop for a beat and think "That's nice" when they see corn stalks, pumpkins, and mums clustered around a gate post or an entry door?

Inside, holiday décor can lend a festive air and create a joyful atmosphere – something everyone wants to feel in their own home. It could be just the thing that makes a prospective buyer think "This is home."

Each holiday presents that opportunity – but do be cautious.

Homeowners who go "all out" in decorating could be harming, rather than helping the presentation of their homes.

Why? Because when it's over-done, visitors will focus on the decorations instead of the house. In some cases, décor can even hide some of a home's best features, while making rooms appear small and over-crowded.

So decorate. Add some lively color and create a festive mood. But keep a light touch. You want those visitors to focus on your home, not your decorating skills.

First time homebuyers – Are you ready to begin viewing homes in the Orlando area?

You are if you’ve covered these first important steps:

1. Your finances are in order. You’ve put your credit in good shape, and  you’ve saved some money for a down payment, closing costs, and moving  in.  Yes, it’s true that some loan programs will get you in with no down payment. And in some cases you can combine that with seller-paid  closing costs, so you have zero out of pocket to acquire the house.  
2. But don’t forget that even at that, you will have expenses.  They might be as minor as a gallon of paint, a new doormat, or some shrubs to grace the front yard, but there will be expenses. Yard and lawn care tools, garbage cans (if not provided by the city). Remember also that some utilities may require deposits.
3. You understand your own budget and your own spending habits. Your lender will tell you what you can spend on an Orlando home based on your income and current debt.  However, he or she has no way of knowing about other non-debt expenditures that are important to you. For instance, you may enjoy attending concerts or eating out once a week. You may spend all year looking forward to a week at the beach or on a ski hill. You may believe your children will be deprived if they can’t spend two weeks each summer at an expensive camp.  Leave room in your budget for these important expenditures, and leave room to set a bit aside each month as a safety net or for future investment.
4. You’re well aware of the costs of home ownership and you’re prepared for them. Taxes and insurance may be included in your monthly mortgage payment, but you’ll still have utilities, possible HOA fees, maintenance costs, and if your new home is farther from work,  commuting costs beyond what you have now.

You’ve sorted out the difference between your needs and your wants.  You may actually need a set number of bedrooms, space for an office, or a yard for your dogs. Your “want” list will likely be much longer.  Speaking of dogs, if they’re part of your family, make sure your agent is aware of the fact. Some communities do restrict the number and/or size of dogs that are allowed.

Before you begin your search for a home in Orlando, know what your future home must have and don’t bother looking at houses that don’t qualify. From there you can work on finding a home with features you  simply want.

You’ve chosen a neighborhood, based on your own research. A house is just one small island in a neighborhood. Make sure you’ll be happy there by meeting a few of the neighbors, checking the crime statistics, researching the schools, and checking the distance to amenities and services that are important to you. (If you must visit the gym every morning before work, you won’t want to drive 30 miles to get there)!

You’ve chosen an agent to help you find the right home, and to guide you through the process. Real estate transactions today can be complicated, so don’t try to go it alone. Remember that it costs the buyer nothing to have representation, so choose an agent who will be your ally from start to finish.

Are you ready to begin your search for a home in Orlando? If so, get in touch. I’d love to help you find that “just right” home, and to protect your interests as you navigate the process from offer to closing.