Putting your home on the market can seem like a daunting task; there are so many things to take care of — and so many big things to bring you stress. Not only is there a new house to think about, but you also have to prepare your current home for potential buyers, and that can take an awful lot of time and money. When you have young children, all that work can be even more challenging. Making sure your little ones are okay with the move while ensuring that your home stays clean and walk-through ready is a big job, but there are a few things you can do to lessen the stress and get you through the task much easier.
Hire Some Help
It can be beneficial to hire some help when you need to keep your home looking great at all times. Not only will this free up some of your time, but it will also reduce your stress load to know that someone else will be there to tidy up just before a potential buyer walks through.
Keep in mind that a housekeeper will have different duties than a maid service, which is more specialized. Housekeeping services might include general upkeep of the home, changing of the linens, light yard work, and/or preparing meals, and this should be an individual you feel you can trust since they will be spending a lot of time in your home.
Get the Family Involved
When young children feel that they’re part of something, they are more eager to get involved. Talk to them about the process of selling your home and the move; this will help them feel more comfortable with keeping their rooms clean or helping out around other various parts of the house. You can make the move more exciting by counting down the days on a calendar or making trips to the new place before moving day so everyone can see the home. If possible, take some photos of the bedrooms so your children can visualize and plan for their belongings. Make sure they know that they will be taking their belongings with them; sometimes, young children don’t understand the concept of moving and need to be reassured.
Get Organized
One essential task to complete before selling your home is to get organized. Go from room to room and look for clutter, keeping in mind what a stranger would see upon entering. It’s easy to overlook things that we see every day, so start with the most common clutter-traps: the kitchen counter, the foyer, and the living room; then, figure out how to maintain the order. If you have very small children, utilizing chic baskets for storage will help you keep the aesthetic of the space while providing a spot to quickly throw toys before a viewing. Also, don’t forget to clean out closets, and keep them looking nice. It’s also essential to make some repairs, even to the most minor damage. Look around your child’s room for marks on the walls, chipped or peeling paint, or damaged window coverings and fix the little things right away.
Keep Communication Open
It’s difficult for little ones to understand the process of a move and selling the home, so talk to them about every step and keep them in the loop. This will reduce anxiety on their part and will help them stay on track as far as general upkeep goes. Create a reward system for good behavior, such as helping to clean or making sure their rooms are in good shape every day or make a chore chart. Giving children a small amount of responsibility can be a good thing for their self-esteem.
Preparing your home for sale when you have children is a great way to teach them about responsibility, so take this opportunity to help them learn in a fun way. With some organization and planning, you can make the job go smoothly.How to Prepare Your Home for Sale When You Have Little Ones
Putting your home on the market can seem like a daunting task; there are so many things to take care of — and so many big things to bring you stress. Not only is there a new house to think about, but you also have to prepare your current home for potential buyers, and that can take an awful lot of time and money. When you have young children, all that work can be even more challenging. Making sure your little ones are okay with the move while ensuring that your home stays clean and walk-through ready is a big job, but there are a few things you can do to lessen the stress and get you through the task much easier.
Hire Some Help
It can be beneficial to hire some help when you need to keep your home looking great at all times. Not only will this free up some of your time, but it will also reduce your stress load to know that someone else will be there to tidy up just before a potential buyer walks through.
Keep in mind that a housekeeper will have different duties than a maid service, which is more specialized. Housekeeping services might include general upkeep of the home, changing of the linens, light yard work, and/or preparing meals, and this should be an individual you feel you can trust since they will be spending a lot of time in your home.
Get the Family Involved
When young children feel that they’re part of something, they are more eager to get involved. Talk to them about the process of selling your home and the move; this will help them feel more comfortable with keeping their rooms clean or helping out around other various parts of the house. You can make the move more exciting by counting down the days on a calendar or making trips to the new place before moving day so everyone can see the home. If possible, take some photos of the bedrooms so your children can visualize and plan for their belongings. Make sure they know that they will be taking their belongings with them; sometimes, young children don’t understand the concept of moving and need to be reassured.
Get Organized
One essential task to complete before selling your home is to get organized. Go from room to room and look for clutter, keeping in mind what a stranger would see upon entering. It’s easy to overlook things that we see every day, so start with the most common clutter-traps: the kitchen counter, the foyer, and the living room; then, figure out how to maintain the order. If you have very small children, utilizing chic baskets for storage will help you keep the aesthetic of the space while providing a spot to quickly throw toys before a viewing. Also, don’t forget to clean out closets, and keep them looking nice. It’s also essential to make some repairs, even to the most minor damage. Look around your child’s room for marks on the walls, chipped or peeling paint, or damaged window coverings and fix the little things right away.
Keep Communication Open
It’s difficult for little ones to understand the process of a move and selling the home, so talk to them about every step and keep them in the loop. This will reduce anxiety on their part and will help them stay on track as far as general upkeep goes. Create a reward system for good behavior, such as helping to clean or making sure their rooms are in good shape every day or make a chore chart. Giving children a small amount of responsibility can be a good thing for their self-esteem.
Preparing your home for sale when you have children is a great way to teach them about responsibility, so take this opportunity to help them learn in a fun way. With some organization and planning, you can make the job go smoothly.
By Kris Louis