Key West Homes for sale by Tina Masters:Your Key West Agent

Preparing to stage a home in Florida can be difficult. You want your home to sell quickly and you want top dollar for it. However, in order to make that happen, you have to plan carefully and know how to make your home look appealing to potential buyers. Since Florida temperatures are appealing, many want to move there so you have that going for you. Now, all you have to do is get your home ready for newcomers. Here are 10 tips to get you started on staging your home.
1. One of the most important things you can do to get ready to sell your Florida home is to emotionally detach yourself from it. You’re hoping to sell it anyway so pack up the belongings you don’t necessarily use right now. If you can live without it for the moment, pack it away. You want a neutral environment to attract both men and women. Allow them to visualize their own property in the home instead of just seeing all of your things.

2. Today, wallpaper is usually a turnoff to many homebuyers. Each person has their own sense of style when it comes to décor. If you leave the paper on, your buying audience may be limited. They may look at it and see work they will have to do by removing it themselves.

3. Don’t use bright colors when painting. Creams and taupes are the way to go and make sure you always repaint before showing your home.

4. Make sure the countertops are cleared of small appliances. Perhaps put a plant or scented candles on the counter. This makes the countertop appear spacious.

5. It might be wise to buy a new doormat.

6. Now onto the outside of the home. Be sure to mow the grass, trim bushes and do any needed edging. Also, put fresh mulch around the trees and bushes.

7. Add bright colored flowers to the front porch. These are appealing and draw the eye right to the front door.

8. If needed, buy a new mailbox or clean up the old one.

9. Clean out the gutters.

10. Finally, sweep and power wash the sidewalks, driveway and your exterior siding.

Every home requires general tips when it comes to selling it. You may need to contact a Staging Professional if you need assistance. Small investments now can increase the value of your property.

Tina Masters
REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
Real Estate Co
1201 White Street #101
Key West, FL 33040
305.292.7440 dir

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The Florida Keys attract many types of people looking for permanent residences or vacation homes. If you need to sell your home you can sell it faster in the Florida Keys by going green.

Going green is not just a popular concept embraced by a few people who have a problem with cutting trees or using fossil fuels,  it is a way to make the best use of sustainable resources by implementing proven energy saving strategies.

Sell your home in the Florida keys by going green with better insulation.

Homes are insulated when they are built, however, over time insulation can settle and become compacted. Upright insulation in walls can also fall down. When insulation is not in the proper places and is not thick enough, there will be loss of heat during winter and loss of cool air in the dwelling during the summer.

Install an energy efficient heating and cooling system.
An energy efficient heating system can save about $200 in heating costs annually.
However when the system is installed, it is important to make sure the ductwork is sealed with no cracks or air gaps that could cause loss of warm or cool air.

A programmable thermostat can be set to cycle on when you are at home and to turn off or down when you are away.

Replace old windows with newer energy efficient windows.

Today’s energy efficient windows are built to keep cool or warm air inside of the home depending upon the season. Windows that have missing caulking, cracks or those that fail to close completely can be a big source of heat or air conditioning loss.

Seal cracks and crevices in crawl spaces and around windows and doors.
The cracks, crevices and small openings throughout a home are the equivalent of a window being left open year around. Imagine the amount of energy lost through these openings.

Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs.

These bulbs will save about $5.00 per year each. In the average home with several light fixtures, this could add up to $100-$200 per year in savings.

Low flow showerheads can reduce the amount of water used during showers.
These special showerheads are designed to minimize water usage while providing good pressure and flow. Some have massage features that can be an added bonus after a long workday. According to the EPA, low flow shower heads can reduce water and energy use by 40 percent.

Going green will help you market your home. When green living strategies are already in place, prospective homebuyers will be attracted to the property. Going green can also help you get the price you want for your property.

Tina Masters
REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
Real Estate Co
1201 White Street #101
Key West, FL 33040
305.292.7440 direct line
305.923.0062 cell