What to Do 90 Days Before Listing Your Lake Nona Home
Lake Nona Seller Education
What to Do 90 Days Before Listing Your Lake Nona Home
Three months sounds like a long time. It goes faster than you think.
The sellers who have the smoothest, most profitable experiences are not the ones who scrambled to get ready in two weeks. They are the ones who gave themselves enough runway to do this right. Ninety days is the right runway for most Lake Nona homes.
Here is exactly what to focus on, week by week, so that when your home hits the market it is ready, priced right, and positioned to attract serious buyers fast.
The core idea: The first 10 to 14 days after your home lists are your most important window. Buyers are watching. Showings happen. Offers come in or they do not. If you are not fully prepared on day one, you lose that window and you spend the rest of your listing fighting an uphill battle.
Days 90 to 61: The Assessment and Planning Phase
This is where you build the foundation. The decisions you make now will determine how everything else unfolds.
90 Days Out
Walk Your Home Like a Buyer
Start at the curb. Walk toward the front door. Stand in the entryway. Walk through every room. Take photos of everything you notice.
You are looking for things that will catch a buyer's attention for the wrong reasons: peeling paint, worn carpet, outdated fixtures, cluttered surfaces, dated hardware, anything that makes the home feel tired instead of move-in ready.
Make a list. Separate it into two columns: things you will fix and things you will leave. That distinction matters. Not everything needs to be fixed. Some things just need to go.
85 Days Out
Interview Listing Agents
This is the step most sellers leave until the last minute. Do not do that. Your listing agent shapes everything: the pricing strategy, the marketing plan, the negotiation outcome. Get this decision right early.
Ask every agent you interview for a real comparative market analysis based on actual Lake Nona sales from the past 90 days. Ask to see their marketing materials. Ask how many Lake Nona homes they have sold. Ask how they handle multiple offers versus a slow market.
The agent who tells you what you want to hear is not always the one you want. The agent who gives you honest numbers and a clear plan is.
See: How to Choose the Right Real Estate Agent in Lake Nona
80 Days Out
Get a Realistic Price Opinion
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is pricing based on what they need to net or what the neighbor sold for two years ago. Neither of those things is relevant to a buyer in today's market.
A good CMA looks at comparable Lake Nona homes that have sold in the past 60 to 90 days, adjusted for size, condition, community, and upgrades. That is where your price should start. Not at a number designed to leave room for negotiation. At a number that will attract buyers from day one.
See: What Is a CMA and Why Does It Matter for Lake Nona Sellers?
[Photo: Well-staged interior of a Lake Nona home, living area or kitchen. Aileen will add a real local photo here before publishing.]
Days 60 to 31: The Preparation Phase
Now you start doing the work. Your agent is hired. Your price range is clear. This phase is about getting the home into the condition that will justify that number.
60 Days Out
Start with Repairs and Maintenance
Handle the things that will show up on an inspection or that buyers will notice immediately:
HVAC serviced and filters replaced
Roof inspected for any issues worth addressing before a buyer's inspector finds them
Any water stains, leaks, or intrusion issues resolved
Exterior paint touched up or repainted if needed
Garage cleaned and organized
Driveway pressure-washed
All interior light bulbs at full brightness
See: What Repairs Matter Most Before Selling a Home in Lake Nona?
50 Days Out
Declutter and Depersonalize
This is harder than it sounds. Every home has too much stuff in it. Yours does too. Buyers need to see the home, not your life inside it.
Rent a storage unit if you need one. Start packing items you do not use daily. Remove excess furniture from rooms that feel crowded. Take down personal photos from walls that draw attention away from the architecture.
The goal is for every room to feel spacious and clean, with just enough furniture and decor to help buyers imagine living there.
See: How to Declutter Your Home Before Selling in Lake Nona
40 Days Out
Curb Appeal and Landscaping
The front of your home sets the tone before a buyer ever steps inside. In Lake Nona communities, where pride of ownership is high and landscaping standards are visible everywhere, your home needs to fit in and stand out at the same time.
Lawn edged, trimmed, and fertilized if needed
Mulch refreshed in all beds
Front door painted or refinished
House numbers clean and visible
Outdoor lighting fixtures cleaned or replaced
Any dead or overgrown plants replaced
See: Curb Appeal Tips for Lake Nona Home Sellers
Resident Perspective from Aileen
I live in Laureate Park and walk through Lake Nona communities regularly. What I notice is that the homes that sell quickly are the ones that look cared for. Not necessarily renovated, but genuinely cared for. When you drive up and it looks like the owners love this home, buyers already feel good before they walk inside. That first impression is worth more than almost any upgrade you could make.
Days 30 to List Date: The Final Push
This is your last thirty days before going live. Everything should be nearly done. This phase is about finishing touches and getting the photography and marketing right.
30 Days Out
Stage the Home
Staging is not about making your home look like a magazine. It is about helping buyers see themselves living in the space. Move furniture to maximize flow. Add fresh bedding and towels in bathrooms. Make the master bedroom feel like a retreat. Make the living areas feel inviting, not cluttered.
If your home is vacant or you are working with limited furniture, professional staging is worth the investment at the Lake Nona price point. Staged homes photograph and show dramatically better than unstaged ones.
See: How to Stage Your Lake Nona Home to Sell Faster
21 Days Out
Professional Photography and Video
This is not optional. In a market where buyers are making initial decisions based on what they see online, your photography is your listing. If the photos are dark, small, or flat, buyers swipe past.
Great listing photos for Lake Nona homes include wide-angle interior shots at the right time of day, exterior shots in good light, aerial or drone footage for homes with notable lot features or community setting, and video walk-throughs for homes in the upper price ranges.
See: Why Professional Photos Matter When Selling Your Lake Nona Home
10 Days Out
Prep for Showings
Deep clean the entire home. Every surface. Every closet if buyers will open them, and they will. Have a plan for where you and any pets go during showings. Set up a showing schedule that works for your life but also makes the home easy to see.
Hide or secure any valuables and medications
Remove personal documents from visible surfaces
Make sure every room smells clean and neutral
Keep the home at a comfortable temperature during every showing
Turn on all lights before each showing
See: How to Prepare for Showings When Selling in Lake Nona
The Most Common Mistake in This Process
Waiting too long to start.
I talk to sellers every week who say "we are planning to list in the spring" or "we will start getting ready in a few months." And then spring comes and they are rushing, making decisions under pressure, and launching before they are truly ready.
The sellers who do this well give themselves time. They make thoughtful decisions about what to fix, what to skip, how to price, and who to hire. They go to market prepared. And when the first offers come in, they negotiate from a position of strength because they do not feel like they have to accept something just to be done.
See: What to Do 6 Months Before Selling Your Lake Nona Home
Thinking about selling in the next few months? Let's build your timeline now so you are fully prepared when it counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do 90 days before listing my Lake Nona home?
Ninety days out, your focus should be on assessment and planning: walk through your home with fresh eyes, identify repairs or updates that will matter to buyers, interview listing agents, request a comparative market analysis, and start clearing out items you do not plan to move. This is the planning phase, and the decisions you make now determine how smoothly the next three months go.
How far in advance should I start preparing to sell my Lake Nona home?
Ninety days gives you a comfortable runway for most sellers. If your home needs more significant work, such as a kitchen refresh or major landscaping, starting six months out is smarter. Homes that sell fastest in Lake Nona are the ones that go on the market fully prepared from day one, because first impressions with buyers are almost impossible to recover from.
What repairs should I make before listing my Lake Nona home?
Focus on the things buyers and inspectors will notice: HVAC servicing, roof condition, water intrusion, exterior paint, and any deferred maintenance that signals neglect. Skip expensive renovations that will not return their cost. Small, targeted improvements in curb appeal, paint, lighting, and fixtures tend to have the highest return at the Lake Nona price point.
When should I start staging my Lake Nona home?
Staging should be complete and photographs taken at least two to three weeks before your list date. That window gives you time to adjust anything that does not photograph well, schedule final cleaning, and make sure the home shows consistently for the first wave of showings. The first 10 to 14 days on market are your most important window.
Do I need a real estate agent 90 days before I list?
Yes. Interviewing and selecting your listing agent early is one of the smartest things you can do. A good agent will walk your home with you, give you a realistic market analysis, help you prioritize what to fix versus skip, and guide your timeline so that everything is ready when you go live. Waiting to hire your agent until you are ready to list means you lose the benefit of their preparation guidance.
Aileen Torres is a Broker Associate and Realtor with Keller Williams Advantage III Realty serving Lake Nona and Greater Orlando. She is a Lake Nona resident with firsthand community knowledge. For a complimentary seller strategy consultation, visit workwithme.aileenhomes.com/workwithme or call (407) 434-1213.
