Sometimes the difference between a house that sits on the market and one that sells quickly isn't the property itself—it's knowing exactly what buyers want to see. That's precisely what happened with a stunning 1967 mid-century modern home in Maitland, Florida, where my interior design expertise and renovation guidance turned a struggling listing into a success story that had buyers falling in love before we even officially relaunched it.

When "As Is" Isn't Enough

The story began in 2024 when a homeowner decided to sell his mid-century modern gem in one of Maitland's most desirable neighborhoods. Like many sellers, he initially thought the home's bones would speak for themselves. After all, mid-century architecture has a devoted following, and the location was prime.

Months passed. Despite price reductions, the home generated little interest. The reality? Today's buyers—even those who appreciate vintage architecture—want to envision themselves living in a space, not renovating one. That's when the homeowner made a pivotal decision: take the house off the market and invest in strategic improvements.

The Power of Professional Interior Design Expertise

This is where my expertise became invaluable. When the homeowner contracted me to handle the re-listing, I brought more than just real estate knowledge to the table. My trained designer's eye immediately identified which updates would deliver the biggest impact with buyers—and which ones would be worth the investment. I don't just sell houses—I help homeowners understand what buyers are actually looking for in today's market. It's not about the most expensive renovations; it's about the smartest ones.

We gave this mid-century gem a total facelift that would make any design magazine jealous! Beautiful new flooring created seamless flow throughout the home, while fresh paint in sophisticated neutrals made every space feel larger and brighter. Strategic light fixture updates added modern functionality with vintage charm, and tailored window treatments provided the perfect finishing touch. Every single element was carefully chosen to highlight the home's architectural character.

First Impressions are everything! The home's original brick divider wall exemplifies thoughtful mid-century design—creating definition between spaces without sacrificing the era's signature open concept flow. Rather than removing this authentic architectural detail, we enhanced it by painting over the original red brick in a sophisticated neutral tone that complements the home's updated aesthetic. It's these kinds of period-appropriate features that mid-century enthusiasts actively seek, and preserving them was essential to maintaining the home's architectural integrity.

Formal Dining Room: These contemporary doors not only enhanced the room's functionality but also amplified its sophisticated appeal, making it feel both intimate for family meals and expansive for entertaining.

One of my most valuable assets proved to be my network of trusted contractors. Finding reliable professionals can make or break a pre-sale renovation timeline, but my established relationships meant quality work could begin immediately.

Having contractors you trust is everything in this business. I've worked with these professionals on multiple projects, so I know their work quality, their timelines, and their pricing. That takes all the guesswork out of the equation for my clients.

Bathroom renovations consistently rank among the highest return-on-investment home improvements, and for good reason. These hardworking spaces get daily use from every family member, so buyers notice every detail—from outdated fixtures to worn surfaces. A thoughtfully renovated bathroom doesn't just add monetary value; it eliminates a major buyer objection and transforms a necessity into a luxury retreat that helps buyers envision their daily routines in the space.

There's a reason real estate agents say 'kitchens sell homes'—studies show that 87% of buyers consider the kitchen the most important room when house hunting. This central gathering space sets the tone for how buyers perceive the entire property. When they see outdated cabinets and worn countertops, they're calculating renovation costs. But when they encounter sleek appliances, beautiful countertops, and smart storage solutions, they're envisioning their life in the space and mentally moving in.

My Strategic Design Approach

My approach to pre-sale improvements reflects my understanding of buyer psychology and design principles. Rather than generic updates, I recommended specific renovations that would appeal to buyers seeking mid-century modern homes while ensuring the property felt move-in ready.

I was developing a comprehensive marketing strategy that would showcase the completed renovations, including plans for a major open house event specifically for other real estate agents—a proven technique for generating buzz and multiple showings. When agents are excited about a property, their enthusiasm translates directly to their buyer clients.

The Unexpected Plot Twist

Sometimes the best design guidance creates results faster than expected. Just as I was preparing to execute my comprehensive marketing plan, serendipity struck. A couple who had been searching the neighborhood spotted the house and asked for a showing.

Even though renovations weren't completely finished, my interior design expertise had already guided the transformation enough that the couple could envision their future there. The strategic improvements we'd made spoke directly to what mid-century modern buyers were seeking—updated functionality while preserving the home's architectural character.

The result? SOLD—before we even officially relaunched the listing!

Happy Clients!

How Interior Design Expertise Made the Difference

This success story illustrates why my approach works so effectively. It's not just about listing a property; it's about understanding market psychology, knowing which improvements matter most, and having the professional network to execute changes efficiently.

Every house has a story, and my job is to help that story appeal to the right buyer. Sometimes that means strategic improvements, sometimes it means creative staging, and sometimes it means being ready when the perfect buyers appear unexpectedly.

For homeowners considering a sale, this Maitland success offers valuable lessons. The right agent brings more than marketing expertise—we bring design insight, contractor connections, and the ability to position your property for maximum appeal.

Whether your home needs a complete transformation or just strategic touches, the key is working with someone who understands both the design elements that create emotional connection and the market realities that drive sales decisions.

Ready to sell your home? My proven combination of interior design expertise and real estate savvy could be exactly what your property needs to go from listing to SOLD. You can reach me by calling me at (407) 743-2399 or emailing me at carmen@sohointeriordesign.com. for a free consultation.

As both an interior designer and a realtor, I can help sellers maximize the market value for their home and get it sold faster. My staging and design skills are an added bonus and come in handy when helping a buyer imagine how a home could look.

Over the past 60-days, I managed the renovation of a home located in the Colonial Town area. After the construction was completed, I staged every room, except one bedroom. I researched recent home sales in the area. The owner and I agreed to list the house just under $300 per sq. ft.

Within 48-hours we had eight offers from pre-qualified buyers. The house is under contract and set to close on March 25. Here’s the good news, the final offer went $10,000.00 over the asking price.

Let Me Show You Why Home Staging Works! 🙂

Take a look at some of these before and after photos from the offering of the staged property.

The home is well lived-in and rather dark overall. Not very inviting for buyers to see possibilities easily. Now, check out the results from AFTER my remodeling and staging work:

It all starts with the very first impression…

Bright and cheery, right?

As you can imagine, I see many homes packed to the gills, closets overflowing and cereal boxes stored on top of the refrigerator. It doesn’t show well or let potential home buyers feel there is room for their stuff.

The staging skills I employ have helped my buyers use their imagination to what a home could look like with certain arrangements of furniture or color. I think you’ll agree, the “after” images make a BIG difference. That’s the power of staging.

While there aren’t a lot of us interior designers who are both a realtor and offer home staging, we certainly bring a lot to the table, especially in terms of selling speed and higher prices realized.

The Real Estate Staging Association reports that 90 percent of all staged homes successfully sell within a month of hitting the market.

Also, the National Association of Realtors conducted an in-depth home staging survey a few years ago which showed that 49% of buyers’ agents cited that home staging had an effect on most buyer’s view of the home. It also showed that 21% of respondents stated that staging a home increased the dollar value of the home between 6-10%.

Even a little Home Staging can go a Long Way

My experience has shown me that a little home staging in a listing goes a long way. In most cases, the seller is more than willing to let me enhance their home with the possessions they already have. Decluttering is essential.

Being an interior designer and realtor who offers home staging r cross-pollinates to help me do better as a real estate agent. My education as an interior designer and my work doing home staging helps me establish immediate communication with my sellers. It’s important to have a good rapport with whoever you’re working with, and I’ve found that, professionally, staging and real estate work go hand in hand.

My ability to either use a homeowner’s possessions for staging or using my own inventory or furnishings and accessories to give life to an empty home greatly helps my real estate seller clients.

For those purchasing a home, my resources and discounts as an interior designer help my real estate buyer clients, especially since I make some of my commission available to them for my interior design services.

Home staging is an excellent method of letting buyers see the potential of a home. So many times, I’ve seen typical buyers unable to “see” past an owner’s possessions – there’s a lot of clutter inherent in a “lived-in” home. All that gets in the way of a buyer being able to envision the home as theirs. Buyers today want a move-in-ready home. Staging gets rid of the mess and highlights the focal points of a space.

Also, marketing a staged home becomes a much easier task than one that is empty or cluttered. Photographs can be done with wide-angle lenses to capture everything that is important to buyers.

There are many misconceptions about home staging and redesign. Many sellers, buyers, and agents think that staging is about bringing in furniture. In my experience, it is more about reorganization, deep cleaning, and repurposing.

Sometimes just staging a few rooms can make a big impact. Entry points are most important when home staging a house for sale. The first impression starts at the curb.

Real Estate and Staging is a very Natural Marriage

Staging can often begin with fixing up the porch, painting the front door, planting colorful flowers or a planter, mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and putting new lights up, or getting a new mailbox. If people aren’t attracted to the front of the house most likely they won’t be stepping inside the door (unless they are flippers).

As an extension of my interior design work and knowledge, staging goes hand in hand with my real estate practice. While It takes a bit of time to prepare and implement a staging project, real estate and staging is a very natural marriage.

Soho’s home staging brings out the potential of a home while staying as neutral as possible – so that each prospective buyer can imagine the home as they would decorate it. Let’s transform your house into someone’s dream home. Call me at 407-710-9949 and let’s have a conversation. And check out my home staging page on my website at this link.

Orlando Real Estate Agent

Sold! Interior Design Expertise Transforms a 1967 Maitland Property