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February 2025
How Staging Can Make or Break a Sale: My Experience in Brandon, FL
Last year, I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful client in Brandon, FL—a suburb just 20 miles east of Tampa Bay. She had a charming older home, a solid 3-bedroom, 1-bath with great bones and an amazing yard. It was the perfect starter home for a young family looking to add their own modern touches and make it cozy.
But there was a challenge.
My client, a devoted Catholic in her late 60s, had religious images—crucifixes, statues, and paintings—throughout the home. While I personally share her faith (Jesus is my Savior, and God is first in my life), I knew that for potential buyers, these personal touches could be distracting.
So I had an honest conversation with her. For our listing photos and open house, I suggested temporarily packing away religious décor. Not to hide her faith, but to allow buyers to focus on the home itself. She trusted me, and we staged the home in a way that helped buyers see its true potential. The result? More interest, more offers, and a happy client who was able to move closer to family.
That experience reinforced how crucial staging is. Here are six simple but powerful ways to stage a home effectively and make it more appealing to buyers:
- Neutralize Personal Decor Buyers need to visualize themselves in the home. Whether it’s religious symbols, family photos, or bold statement pieces, packing them away can make a huge difference. This doesn’t mean erasing personality—just creating a clean slate that appeals to a wide range of buyers. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), 20% of both buyers’ and sellers’ agents reported that staging a home increased the offer price by between 1% and 5% compared to similar homes that weren’t staged.
- Declutter and Depersonalize Less is more. A clutter-free home feels bigger, brighter, and more inviting. Clear off countertops, organize shelves, and put away personal collections. A minimalist look allows buyers to focus on the home’s features rather than distractions. Nearly half of sellers’ agents (48%) noted that staging a home decreased its time on the market.
- Maximize Natural Light Florida homes are blessed with sunshine, so use it! Open curtains and blinds, clean the windows, and even replace heavy drapes with sheer ones. Natural light makes a home feel warm and welcoming. A significant 81% of buyers’ agents said that staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home.
- Strategic Furniture Placement In my client’s home, we rearranged some furniture to improve flow and create a more open feel. Positioning furniture to highlight the size and function of each room helps buyers see how they can use the space efficiently.
- Simple Modern Touches Not every home needs a full remodel to look fresh. Swapping outdated light fixtures, adding neutral-colored throw pillows, and refreshing kitchen or bathroom hardware can instantly modernize a space. Small updates, big impact!
- Curb Appeal Matters First impressions start before a buyer even steps inside. Mowing the lawn, planting flowers, or simply painting the front door can add instant charm. A well-maintained exterior signal that the home has been well cared for.
In the end, my client’s home sold faster than expected because we made it easy for buyers to see themselves living there. That’s the power of staging! If you’re thinking about selling your home in Tampa, Lakeland, or Orlando, I’d love to help you get it market-ready and sold quickly.
Got questions about staging? Let’s chat!
References
- National Association of REALTORS®: Staging can increase home sale prices by 1-5% (nar.realtor)
- The Staging Company: Staged homes sell up to 30 times faster than non-staged homes (thestaging.co)
- MHM Professional Staging: 81% of buyers find it easier to visualize a home when it is staged (professionalstaging.com)