5 Tips for Getting Your Home Ready to Sell When You’re a Parent

Guest contributor, Kris Louis from parentingwithkris.com nails it on the head as she writes about how to sell with the little ones running around. I have a very clear memory of my mom being super stressed, trying to keep the house impeccable as it was on the market. If my 9 year old self can remember the stress, I’m sure it was bad for my parents.

Kids add joy to our lives like no one else can, but when it comes to keeping a clean an organized home, they’re not always the biggest helpers. Getting your home ready to sell when you’re a parent is another story altogether. Fortunately, there are ways to navigate the challenges. These five tips will help you prep your home to sell it faster when you have kids.

Consider a Pro

Before you do anything, consider hiring a professional home stager. Not only can they bring in furniture and arrange decor to present your living space in the best light possible, but they can also offer design advice. For instance, they may recommend tiling the floor in the kitchen, painting an accent wall in the living room, or upgrading the light fixtures in the bathroom. The National average for home staging is around $3,000.

Talk with Your Kids

One thing that will help the prepping process is to have a conversation with your kids about what’s happening. Moving homes is a perfect time to declutter household belongings, but kids can get emotional when they see things being tossed out or packed away. Involve them when decluttering their items, and let them decide which items to keep (within your limits, of course).

You also may need to explain to your kids how you’re moving to a new place but that everyone will still be together. Focus on the positives, and if you already have another home lined up, take them to see it when you can. The key is to be honest and get them excited about the move; that way, they will be more likely to cooperate.

Talk with Friends and Family

 Along with talking to your kids, you need to have conversations with friends and family members about possibly watching your kids while your home is on the market. The whole process will be easier and less stressful if your kids are out of the house for a while during deep cleaning days, photo shoots, showings, and virtual tours.

Declutter Thoroughly

 As mentioned before, having your home on the market is the perfect time to declutter your belongings and start fresh at your new home. However, decluttering is also a critical part of selling. It’s much easier for a buyer to envision themselves in the home when every space is open and organized. Go through each room and decide what to keep and what to toss. When it comes to your kids’ things, they may handle the situation better if they are involved and know where each item is going (e.g., to a person, charity, etc.).

Clean Everything

 Once the home is decluttered, you’ll want to clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Set up a cleaning station that has all the supplies you will need (e.g., gloves, rags, solutions, broom, mop, etc.), and take it with you to each room as you clean. That way, you won’t have to make last-minute runs to the store when you’re going full throttle. Start at the ceiling of each room and move down; that way, you can clean up any dust and other debris that falls as you go. Most buyers will expect to see every inch of the home, so don’t skimp on the cleaning.

 Preparing your home to sell can be challenging when you have kids, but you can make it less stressful for yourself by implementing a few tips. Consider bringing in a professional home stager, and have a conversation with your kids about the moving process. Arrange for your kids to be away from the action during showings and other important times. Finally, declutter and deep clean the home so that it will leave the best impression on potential buyers.