It happens at least once a week... I go into a home for a shoot and/or staging appointment and the parents are feverishly running around picking up toys, cleaning up dishes, putting laundry away, etc. and apologizing to me along the way for the last minute insanity. My well known come back is always- selling your home when you have children is not for the faint of heart. I always explain that even though I do this for a living, I can't wrap my head around the idea of selling my own home. There is no way to get around the fact that families need to move for a variety of reasons and the only thing you can do is try to make it as painless as possible!
When I go through these homes, I always take mental notes of the nifty ideas that other parents have come up with to make their home appear more organized without breaking the bank and going insane. Sadly, sometimes I also see what not to do!
Best place to start are my tips for making your home photo (and market) ready!
Have your home professionally cleaned before it hits the market. It will be much easier to maintain and when you get that call for a last minute showing; you should only have to do minimal spot cleaning.
Make the home organization and preparation for showings a family affair. Post a picture of your future home on your refrigerator. Keeping the goal in sight will motivate everyone on pitching in to bring you closer to your dream home.
Speaking of pitching in, no time like the present to start a chore list for the entire family! You could look all over the Internet for ideas to create a formal and fun chore chart and Kid's Activity Blog has a great list of appropriate chores for kids of all ages! If your children are resistant, don't be above using bribery! Make a trade off- if the children can keep up with their chores then you can allow them to pick out their paint color or bedding in their new room.
Make smart use of your home's hiding spaces for all of your kiddos' necessary items. Whether it's closets, garage, unfinished basement or even under beds- use as much as you need, but keep it organized! Buyers will keep in mind that you are moving and will likely look past an abundance of items in these storage areas. BUT, if your items are not organized, that could be distracting and a turn off. On a side note- you are only allowed to store items under a bed if you have a floor length bed skirt...sorry, it's one of my rules!
Have items that your children do not play with or use everyday, but they are not ready to part with them forever? Rent a storage unit! Children have an awful lot of stuff, usually much more than us parents do. A rental storage unit could be an affordable lifesaver to help keep your home clutter free!
Curb appeal matters- at all times! With most buyers driving by your home before they even contact an agent for a showing, your curb appeal is of utmost importance. Landscaping and exterior maintenance are, without a doubt, the most important things to consider with curb appeal, but so is outdoor clutter. Children's bikes, scooters, sports equipment, etc, should be put away directly after use. Clutter on the front lawn can be just as undesirable as clutter in the home.
Final and, in my opinion, the most important tip- Price your home competitively! Over pricing your home could cause an extended time on the market and create unnecessary stress on you and your
family. While it's always desired to get top dollar for your home, can you deal with keeping your home show ready for 6 months (or longer)? Work closely with a highly qualified real estate agent to make sure your home is priced right!
Happy Selling!
Annie
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