{"id":11066,"date":"2019-06-19T13:58:44","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T20:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=11066"},"modified":"2024-05-28T11:45:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T18:45:04","slug":"summer-home-sale-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/summer-home-sale-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"School\u2019s Out! Now How Will You Sell Your House This Summer Home Sale With Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer is here, but as a parent trying to sell your house while the kids are home from school, you\u2019re not exactly in vacation mode. More like…pick up, clean up, drop off, work a 9-to-5, try not to lose your mind<\/em>…mode, right?<\/p>\n

Yet you\u2019re smart to put out the for-sale sign now<\/i>, at the start of another seasonally strong home-selling period. According to data from HomeLight, 71% of top real estate agents across America recommend listing your house at the beginning (rather than the end) of summer.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because lots of other parents who might be looking to move to your area need to get settled before the school bells ring again in August, so there could be a surge of demand for your type of property during this particular window. Plus, the nice weather brings out more house hunters, and 80% of people who plan to move in the U.S. do so between April and September<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The moral is: Even if the children running afoot makes you question your decision to sell now vs. wait<\/a>, don\u2019t second-guess it. Just follow this series of been-there, done-that advice we\u2019ve put together from real estate experts and fellow parents to bring you the best tactics to manage showings, cleanings, and kids with too much time on their hands.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Marcelo Asher Quarantotto Jr.\/ Death to the Stock Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Keep the kids busy and out of the house for showings<\/h2>\n

When it comes to showing your home, children should be neither seen nor heard, and quite frankly, neither should you. You\u2019ll want to have the kids out of the house during showings, which buyers may book last minute or at unpredictable times.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t overpack your schedule\u2014instead, leave room for flexibility<\/h3>\n

Some parents might think a packed schedule of day camps, playdates, and summer swim lessons is the best way to maintain a clean and kid-free home.<\/p>\n

However, digital parenting coach Shelley Jefsen<\/a>, who has sold both her family homes in the summer, advises against this tactic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it may seem as though planning a lot of activities during the summer would be a good way to keep your children out of the home, parents actually create more work for themselves,\u201d Jefsen told HomeLight.<\/p>\n

Think about the extra laundry you\u2019ll have to wash, lunches you\u2019ll have to pack, and rides you\u2019ll have to coordinate while juggling your showings schedule.<\/p>\n

Instead of focusing on an activities schedule for the kids, allow for some flexibility to accommodate those last-minute tours, advises Susan Melnick<\/a>, a top-selling Dallas agent<\/a> with over three decades of real estate experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ask for at least an hour\u2019s notice [for showings] but you just always have to be ready,\u201d Melnick says. \u201cEspecially in the summer when people are relocating<\/a>. They might just be in town for a day or two, and might not have another opportunity to look\u2014they\u2019re just going to move onto the next house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take experiences to-go<\/h3>\n

Instead of a hard and fast schedule, opt for more flexible options that will get your kids out of the house for an afternoon. A city or community pool pass makes dropping in for an afternoon easy. If the weather takes a turn, consider kids summer movie programming, where tickets can be as cheap as $4 each<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jefsen also recommends \u201cTo-Go\u201d bags or boxes. Have a small box or grocery tote of art supplies in the car reserved for impromptu trips when a last-minute showing arises. Additionally, put together a \u201cTo-Go Park Pack\u201d with balls, games, and a picnic blanket for warm weather days when the kids will want to go outside.<\/p>\n

When in doubt, there\u2019s always your local library branch. Many offer free drop-in summer programming<\/a>, as well as resources, computer games, (not to mention plenty of books!) for nonstop kid entertainment.<\/p>\n

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Source: (Marcelo Asher Quarantotto Jr.\/ Death to the Stock Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Make a plan for quick clean-ups<\/h2>\n

When your home is on the market, it always has to be showing-ready. As a parent you\u2019re up against chronically sticky surfaces, toy dumps, and food messes no matter what time of year (for that HomeLight has a complete guide for staging your house with kids<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But summer brings some unique challenges like sweltering weather and planning for all the meals (even the lunches your kids usually get at school). Here are a few pro tips for managing it all.<\/p>\n

Daily diaper duty<\/h3>\n

Depending on where you live, summers are hot and smelly. Even in the best air-conditioned homes, direct sun and heat are not your friends. If you have little ones in the home, Jefsen recommends being diligent with your diaper pail: \u201cTake your diapers out multiple times a day, every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to significant turn-offs during a showing, smell might rank the highest, Melnick says. In her 34 years of experience as an agent, it\u2019s not the errant Legos on the ground or the princess-themed bedroom that turns potential buyers off, \u201cmostly, it\u2019s the smell. If the house doesn\u2019t smell \u2018well,\u2019 then we\u2019re going to have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

No matter the issue, whether it\u2019s pets or mildew, you want to attack any odors from the root cause<\/a>, not try to cover them up with your lemon air freshener from the gas station.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re at it, you might consider some scent neutralizers for the diaper pail<\/a>, or a more robust pail, like the Wirecutter-endorsed Ubbi<\/a> to avoid having that smell lingering in the air hours after you\u2019ve emptied it out.<\/p>\n

Minimize personal items and messes<\/h3>\n

When staging a home to sell<\/a>, you\u2019ll want to pack up everything that\u2019s not used daily. Of course, having your children (temporarily) part with items can be traumatic. To ease the pain, get the kids involved<\/a>; ask them opinions on what they want to hold onto for now, and what can go into storage until the move.<\/p>\n

Jefsen recommends allowing your children a limited space to store their toys, such as a wicker basket or container. While you\u2019re at it, avoid messy toys or activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe toys that you allow your children to keep during a time of sale should be easily cleaned up. Large Legos, wooden blocks, or one or two dolls,\u201d Jefsen suggests.<\/p>\n

The slime kits, complicated Lego sets, and dolls with many small accessories should be packed away.<\/p>\n

Winnow down the kids\u2019 wardrobes<\/h3>\n

Summer can mean lots of activities and clothes for all occasions, but there\u2019s a good chance many of them will just end up on the floor. Your kids don\u2019t need 5 bathing suits, even if they do swim a lot, reasons Jefsen. When keeping your home and closet staging ready<\/a>, try not to have more than a week\u2019s worth of clothing on hand. The rest can be boxed up in the basement, or taken to a storage unit.<\/p>\n

A good rule of thumb to calculate how much clothing your child might need is to plan for 1.4 outfits<\/a> each day, then round up.<\/p>\n

For example, for seven days, you need 10 outfits (1.4 x 7 \u00a0= 9.8). Add in some staples like a couple light jackets, one pair of shoes for different activities (flip-flops, sneakers, and something dressier). Calculate how many jammies your kid goes through in a week, whether it\u2019s every other day or every day a new pair, and plan accordingly.<\/p>\n

Keep sanity in check with simple solutions<\/h3>\n

You never know when hunger might strike, but cooking meals for the kids can lead to just another mess you\u2019ve got to clean up\u2014and you don\u2019t need to be getting out the apron for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack time.<\/p>\n

Consider prepping meals ahead of time<\/a> before you start showing the house. Choose easy dishes that freeze well<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n