Simple Rules for Parents Preparing To Sell by Kris Louis
Managing any household with children can be stressful, and time is a precious commodity for which there is little supply. With conflicting schedules that change weekly or monthly, it can be difficult to stay on top of domestic demands, let alone stay on top of the chaos of prepping your home for sale. However, if you follow a few simple rules, it is possible to do both and keep your home spotless for showings.
CLEAN THE MESS
Let’s face it: messes and spills follow children everywhere they go. While those accidents can be cleaned, the wear and tear from years of use sometimes require more than a little elbow grease. First, engage your children in a clean-up session, and then consider hiring a professional cleaning service to deep clean your house after the messes have been picked up. A professional cleaner will be able to reach oft-neglected spots and remove stains that were previously thought to be permanent, as well as provide you more free time to spend with your children doing things that make you happy.
CLEAR THE JUNK
Prospective sellers must be able to think like buyers, and that means imagining what buyers will think when they walk into your home. The first look could be your only opportunity to make a lasting impression on someone interested in purchasing your home. It happens to all of us, but junk accumulates over the years in areas that you might not realize, like the stairs, entry ways, and the closet. Clutter can create a distraction for interested buyers, and can make it hard for them to imagine living in your home. While sentimental attachment might have you holding onto trinkets and keepsakes from your children’s youth, you might find that it provides no value to your lives. You might also find that getting rid of the clutter not only improves the overall appeal of your home to prospective buyers, but it also makes you feel better.
STAGE YOUR HOME
A home with the best presentation in the best light is more likely to get sold, so focus on accentuating its strengths while masking its weakest parts. One way to accomplish this goal is by staging your home, which may include rearranging your furnishings and décor, or even renting furnishings to help your home achieve its potential. Staging can have a positive impact on your sale strategy, but it can be tricky to find time to stage the entire home with children around. If you don’t think you have the time or budget to stage your entire house, focus on the most important rooms, like the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Anticipating when prospective buyers are likely to come by can be tricky. While showings can be pre-scheduled, there are times when an interested party will catch you off-guard at the last minute. If you’re in a time crunch, develop a quick process to prepare your home in a moment’s notice. Things you can do to tidy up for a last minute showing include keeping a basket nearby to quickly put your children’s toys in; turning on all the lights and opening your curtains to make your home appear brighter; and taking out the trash so unwanted odors don’t leave a foul impression.
Today’s families are busier than ever, and time is of the essence when you’re trying to juggle the demands of work with your life at home. When you add a house sale into the mix, the busyness is amplified, and time is even more scarce. Although it might feel like there are not enough hours in the day, focus on what you need to do right now, and remember that this stage in life is only temporary. You’ll soon be back to having quality family time once you’ve settled into your new home.
Kris Louis is a blogger who writes about parenting.
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