Keeping your life under control during a property sale is a tall order. If you have kids, the situation can be more complicated. Your children do not care about keeping your home show-ready. They will drop their toys and shoes everywhere and make a mess of every room. Kids can drag the sale and make your life miserable. Does that mean you need to move out as soon as you list your house? Buyers do not expect a perfect place if you have kids. However, you can try to maintain a show-ready home with the following tips:
1. Inform Them About the Sale
Before putting a ‘for sale’ sign on your lawn, ensure you discuss with your kids. While they may be anxious and worried about the change, keeping them in the loop and staying positive about the move will help them. Inform them why you are moving. Some of the reasons could be living closer to loved ones or moving to a better house. When you have open communication from the start, your kids will help you prepare the home for showing. They can do some cleaning tasks or pick up their toys after playing. Even if they are not involved in cleaning, they will stay out of your way and reduce the mess they make.
2. De-Clutter the House
You want your home to look spacious and tidy during showings. Therefore, you need to strip off anything that does not add value. Begin with your bedrooms and clear out the closets. Keep clothes for 90 days, pack the rest and move them to an off-site storage facility. You can also sort through your items and clothes and hold a garage sale or donate them. It would be prudent to remove any toys that your kids have outgrown and books they no longer read. De-cluttering will save you cleaning time since you will have fewer toys on the floors, and the wardrobes will be easier to organize.
3. Remove Any Signs of Kids
People love picturing themselves in the house before they decide to buy. Tripping on kids’ toys and Barbie-themed kids’ rooms will not work in your favor. The decor and furnishings should appeal to the masses. That means you should remove your kids’ murals, family photos and souvenirs from the walls. While they make life enjoyable for your children, they can be a showstopper for many buyers. If you have kid-themed wallpapers, you need to remove them and paint the walls in neutral colors. For a quick sale, ensure there are no traces of kids or pets in the house.
4. Deep Clean
When you have kids, spillages and food crumbs on the floor are inevitable. While they may not leave a stain, the dirt build-up could produce an unpleasant smell. Before your first showing, hire professionals to deep clean your home. A good cleaning will leave the house smelling fresh and spotless. Deep cleaning will also make your daily cleaning chores easier.
5. Have a Schedule for Your Kids During Showings
Your adorable kids can mess up your showings by distracting you from the buyer. Besides, some buyers may be uncomfortable around kids. Ensure your kids have something to do during the showing or open house. Treat them to a night out, take them to the movies or allow them to visit their friends.
If you do not have a babysitter, a property agent can do the showings and work around your schedule. You also do not need an open house to make a quick sale. Most people that come to the open house are window shopping.
6. Maintain a Daily Routine for Tidying up Your Home
Sometimes buyers can show up without notice, and you cannot turn them away. That means your house needs to be impeccable at all times. Since you may forget some chores, having a to-do list will come in handy. Write down all the activities you must do before leaving your home, including cleaning, vacuuming, making the beds and wiping down surfaces.
Selling your house when you have kids, is challenging but not impossible. With the above tips, you can locate a buyer without being overwhelmed. Alternatively, you can check out the Sell House Fast section at We Buy Any Home for more information on how to get your house off the market quickly.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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