There’s nothing easy about getting a home ready to put on the market. Even if you hire professionals to help, it can be a stressful process that takes time, money, and energy. And if you’re a parent, it can be overwhelming as you try to get the home in shape, keep it clean, and keep everyone happy. Nonetheless, having a plan can ease the stress of your home-prepping process. Here are some tips on how to get your home ready to sell when you have kids.
Explain the Move to Your Kids
Before you start prepping your home, have a conversation with the whole family. Explain to your kids that you’re moving, provide them with reasons, and answer as many questions as you can. If possible, tell them at least a month before the move. Also, keep it positive. Most kids want to know that family routines won’t change and that life won’t get worse because of the move.
Assign Roles
Once everyone is on the same page, make sure your kids know that you need their help to get the home ready. If your kids are old enough, you could have them help you with cleaning, painting, and other household tasks. If you don’t need your kids to help with those tasks, at least explain that they will need to help keep the home tidy so it can be ready for showings.
Clear Out the Non-Essentials
Cleaning your home will be much easier if there’s less stuff to clean around. Clear out anything you don’t need or won’t use while your home is on the market. This could include everything from holiday decorations and seasonal clothing to toys and extra bedding. Putting items like these in storage will make it easier to do a quick clean-up if you have a last-minute showing.
Renting a self-storage unit can be well worth the investment, as it’s a cost-effective way to keep the belongings you don’t need out of the way. Prices for storage in Charlotte can be high, but you can often find places that offer sign-up deals. For instance, Life Storage on Morehead Street currently has a half-off deal for the first three months on all of its units.
Deep Clean
Once you put some of your belongings in storage, it’s time to deep clean the home. Buyers tend to look at every nook and cranny, so make sure you don’t miss any spots. Go room by room, declutter, and clean from top to bottom (e.g., from ceiling fans and light fixtures to side tables and floors). If you don’t have the time or the energy to make your home sparkle, hiring a cleaning service for a one-time visit is a worthwhile expense; homeowners in Charlotte pay an average of $199 for professional house-cleaning services.
Once you or a pro has tidied up, dusted, and wiped down everything, the key is to keep it in good shape. Make sure your kids help you keep it clean if they are old enough.
Freshen Up the Paint
Painting is a cost-effective way to transform the look of your home, as you can do most or all of it yourself. For most of the rooms, stick with a neutral color; this will help depersonalize the space and allow more room for the buyer to add their style through decor.
Tweak the Exterior
Lastly, you can boost your curb appeal by mowing the lawn, trimming the shrubs, and disposing of any fallen leaves or limbs. Also, consider painting the front door and adding a new mailbox and house numbers. Small changes to the outside of your home can help make a good first impression on prospective buyers.
Prepping a home to sell can be especially challenging when you have kids. Be sure to explain to them the move, and assign them tasks to help keep the home in good shape. Also, put any items you don’t currently need or use in storage, give the home a good deep cleaning, paint neutral colors throughout the home, and shape up the curb appeal. Following these tips will help ease the stress that comes with selling a home.
Photo Credit: Burst