Kids are messy and have a lot of stuff. If you are looking to sell your home, it likely feels overwhelming because it is a much bigger task when kids are involved.
To help you with this daunting task, I have 5 tips to help you get your home ready and beautiful throughout the selling process. Read to the end for a bonus tip!
5 Tips for Selling Your Home with Kids
1) Make sure your kids are aware of what is happening. It is important to involve the kids before the for sale sign goes up in the yard. Talk with the kids about the upcoming challenges that the family will experience together such as keeping the house clean and leaving for showings.
2) De-personalize the home to allow it to be appealing to the masses. The things that appeal to you and your family may not appeal to all of the buyer’s walking through your home. Remember to remove kids’ drawings and other items from the fridge. Put away anything that might indicate your kids names or where they go to school – for safety reasons.
3) Tone down the kid decor. Think about any bright paint colors or themed bedrooms. I know your kids probably love the hot pink and lime green walls in their room, but you will be shocked to know how many buyers that can scare away. So consider painting the rooms in more neutral colors and taking down any themed decor such as wall posters.
4) Pack up the kids’ toys. Let’s be honest, our kids have a ton of stuff that they are not using on a regular basis. Declutter their play areas and bedrooms. One of the most important things to remember about prepping your home for sale is that the less cluttered and the less items in a space, the larger the space feels.
5) Get a storage space. All those toys you just packed up need a space to go. If you have enough space in your garage, it is okay to put boxes here. Buyers expect it. But if you need even more space, consider a storage unit or a POD. PODS are great if you need daily access to your items.
PRO TIP: As you start packing, first identify what items can be donated. Think about items your kids no longer use or have outgrown. Rather than moving boxes full of items your family isn’t using, purge them!
Bonus Tip: Identify a plan for what your family will do during showings. Share with your REALTOR if there are any specific times where you cannot show the home (i.e. kids nap time). Then consider what you can do during the times you have to leave the home for showings. Some ideas include – grocery shopping, visiting a playground, or hanging out at a friend’s house. If your REALTOR expects your home to have a high number of showings, consider listing on a Friday and leaving town for the weekend.
Now you are ready to start the process of selling your home with kids! If you are feeling unsure about whether or not spring is a good time for your family to make a move, then you will want to read “Pros and Cons of Selling a Home in the Spring”.
Needing more guidance on the home selling process? Grab my Home Seller Guide here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63dece2f781752946ff2b168