![\"staging](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/staging-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>As a parent, the constant picking up, putting away, cleaning (and re-cleaning) is an annoyance. As a person trying to sell your house, a dirty home is a threat to your bottom line.<\/p>\n
So, how in the world do you pull off staging a home to sell with kids (aside from lighting your house on fire at the end of each day and rebuilding it from scratch)?<\/p>\n
To find out, we turned to expert real estate agents\u2014you could call them miracle workers, or armchair family counselors\u2014and the best professional stagers in the business who\u2019ve helped tons of parents turn their unkempt mess of a house into a model home worthy of the magazines.<\/p>\n
How to Stage a House With Kids (and Keep Your Sanity)<\/h2>\n![\"stage](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/stage-to-sell-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Iulian Valentin\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPick Up, Put Away, and Neutralize<\/h3>\n
If you had a nickel for every time your kids actually listened when you said \u201cpick this up\u201d and \u201cput that away,\u201d well, you\u2019d be none the richer for it.<\/p>\n
But until your house sells, you need to set the ground rules for a \u201cnew normal,\u201d which doesn\u2019t grant Jane and Joey the luxury of leaving their LEGOs, Paw Patrol characters and Nintendo game controllers sprawled about the living room. It\u2019s time to simplify all that stuff to a bare minimum<\/i>.<\/p>\nPare down the toy collection to just the kids\u2019 favorites.<\/h4>\n
To start, you\u2019ll want to pack up most of your kids’ toys and get them out of sight.<\/p>\n
Yes, this might cue the hysterics from some defiant kiddos. But the reality is: you are going to move out at some point anyway. Save yourself some energy when moving day comes and declutter your house all at once.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids can end up having a lot of stuff. So you want to move all the toys out and just keep their favorites,\u201d says Pam Smith<\/a>, a Duncanville, Texas, real estate agent who ranks in the top 3% for selling single-family homes.<\/p>\n![\"staging](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/staging-your-home-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (DeeMPhotography\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHere are some ways to explain to your kids that their toys are going bye-bye and include them in the decisions about what stays and what goes:<\/p>\n
\n- To start, get rid of anything that is broken, has missing pieces, or is a duplicate. Put duplicates in the giveaway box and recycle the unusable toys. Explain to your kids that you don\u2019t need broken toys or two of the same thing.<\/li>\n
- Gather and remove any toys you know your kids haven\u2019t played with in a while. If they get upset, let them play with the toy one last time. Then, separate the toys into the giveaway and recycle piles based on condition.<\/li>\n
- Next, separate the remaining toys into categories (cars, dolls, animals, etc.) and have your child pick their favorites.<\/li>\n
- Then, ask your child to pick out toys they\u2019d like to share with other children. Bring those toys to a friend, cousin, charity organization, or resale toy center.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
*Ding! Ding! Ding!* <\/strong>Teaching opportunity! Show your children that it\u2019s good <\/i>not to waste and even better <\/i>to share toys with kids who need them.<\/p>\nHere are some options for places to donate gently used toys:<\/p>\n
\n- Local Shelters or Children Centers<\/li>\n
- Your Local Church<\/li>\n
- Goodwill<\/a><\/li>\n
- The Salvation Army<\/a><\/li>\n
- Toys for Tots<\/a><\/li>\n
- The Ronald McDonald House<\/a><\/li>\n
- SAFE (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies)<\/a><\/li>\n
- Second Chance Toys<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To maintain a manageable number of toys in your house, tell friends and family to only<\/i> give your kids experience gifts (trips to the zoo, museum, beach, etc.) for the time being. This will keep your toy supply low and get your kids out of the house more to help you keep it staged to sell.<\/p>\n
Only keep your child\u2019s most treasured toys, and make sure you have a game plan for how to stash them away during a showing. Here are some awesome, secret toy storage options to incorporate in your home decor:<\/p>\n
\n- Ottoman Storage Bench<\/a><\/li>\n
- Console\/Storage Cabinet<\/a><\/li>\n
- Under Bed Storage <\/a><\/li>\n
- Coffee Table Storage Chest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"stage](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/stage-your-home-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Lukassek\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCover up themes, characters, and bright colors.<\/h4>\n
OK, we love Frozen<\/i>, too! But we don\u2019t need to see Elsa everywhere\u2013\u2013and buyers definitely <\/i>don\u2019t want \u201cLet it Go\u201d stuck in their head for the remainder of their home tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to take down posters and clean up their room,\u201d says Smith. \u201cEven if you leave the princess murals, take down extra posters. You don\u2019t want the walls to look cluttered.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the excess toys out of the way, tone your kids\u2019 rooms down even more with minimal children\u2019s decor.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep it neutral, inviting and simple,\u201d says Cindy Lin<\/a>, owner of award-winning staging company and online home staging school STAGED4MORE.<\/p>\n\u201cI see often times people make elaborate staging for children’s rooms; however, we are in the business of selling the space, not the furniture,\u201d Lin adds of her 10+ years of home staging experience. \u201cSo keep it simple, easy to tour and neutral enough to fit a wide variety of potential buyers.”<\/p>\n![\"how](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/how-to-stage-your-home-to-sell-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Africa Studio\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHere\u2019s how to tone it down so buyers can envision the room turning into the space they desire:<\/p>\n
\n- Remove kid-themed decor such as posters, comforters or duvets with loud patterns, wall decals, and clutter on dressers like figurines and jewelry boxes.<\/li>\n
- Ditch the train track rug for a simple, neutral throw. This chevron hand woven area rug<\/a> is simple, stylish, and leaves room for a buyer\u2019s imagination.<\/li>\n
- Pack up the castle tent in the corner and add an accent chair<\/a> or ottoman<\/a>.<\/li>\n
- Paint over bright walls with a light beige or gray.<\/li>\n
- Replace baby animals on the walls with simple paintings<\/a> that could pass as decorative\u00a0wall art for any room<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Say bye-bye to bulky beds.<\/h4>\n
Bulky children\u2019s beds make rooms seem smaller and are hard for buyers to look past\u2014and they need to be able to picture every possibility to entertain the idea of making an offer.<\/p>\n
Car beds, loft beds, and bunk beds gotta go. If your kids share a room, replace a bunk bed with a trundle bed<\/a> or a classic daybed to show the versatility that buyers will love\u2013\u2014throw a simple desk<\/a> in and you\u2019ve set the scene for a perfect guest room-home office combo.<\/p>\nCreate secret storage for quick stashing and hiding precious items.<\/h4>\n
Kids spread their things out all over the house. Use hidden storage under the bed to stash kid\u2019s clutter. Buyers open every door in a house they\u2019re interested in\u2014but they won\u2019t look under beds.<\/p>\n
Hide placemats and high chairs in drawers and closets when you\u2019re not using them (and especially during a showing).<\/p>\n
You also don\u2019t want anything traumatic to happen to your child\u2019s cherished Blue Bunny stuffed animal or (god forbid) the one and only Blankey when you\u2019re not home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the children have specific pieces of toys that they are emotionally attached to, take those with them during the open house or hide those toys in places that the open house traffic will not touch,\u201d Lin advised.<\/p>\n
Take down fridge art and family photos.<\/h4>\n
Not to diss your child\u2019s art skills (we\u2019re sure their scribble has real potential) but buyers don\u2019t care about hand-turkeys or spelling tests with perfect scores. They do, however, care about that beautiful stainless steel fridge underneath it all that comes with the house. So make sure they see it!<\/p>\n
With your family photos layered on every built-in, buyers will be distracted from the original detail that you\u2019ve worked so hard to maintain. It can also block their vision of their family living in the home. Box up family photos and personal items to keep the space simple and expose the home\u2019s selling points.<\/p>\n![\"stage](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/stage-home-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Morrowind\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMake sure doors and cabinets are easy to open.<\/h4>\n
It\u2019s easy to overlook things that you\u2019ve gotten used to in your home over the years, like locks that don\u2019t work, jiggly doorknobs, or unused drawers that don\u2019t open. Buyers expect these things to be in working order when they tour a home.<\/p>\n
Go through the house and open every door, including cabinets and closets. Make sure they open and close easily and that there aren\u2019t any decade-old child-proof locks still hanging on for dear life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in a showing with buyers where we couldn\u2019t open cabinet doors because we couldn\u2019t figure out the childproof lock,\u201d says Smith. \u201cSo you should remove it or leave the manual or written instructions on how to open it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you still have young children living in the house while you sell it, leave the childproof locks on and provide instructions for how to use them for your real estate agent and buyers. Tell your real estate agent to notify buyers that the locks will be removed once you move out.<\/p>\n
Deep Clean To Erase Years of Built-Up Kiddy Grime<\/h3>\n
Cleaning with small kids is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. Realistically, you\u2019ll have to clean every day when your house is on the market. But, this deep cleaning list will help you kick it into gear. Do the following chores to keep your home looking spotless.<\/p>\n
Wipe all surfaces clear of fingerprints and juice rings.<\/h4>\n
Little hands love to veer off the beaten trail and touch the top of every piece of furniture. Make it a daily task to wipe down every surface to avoid unsightly fingerprints or snack remnants. Pay close attention to stainless steel appliances and hardware that are prone to cloudy prints.<\/p>\n
These Amazon top-rated surface cleaners are safe for every surface:<\/p>\n
\n- Purell Multi-Surface Disinfectant Spray<\/a><\/li>\n
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes<\/a><\/li>\n
- Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner <\/a><\/li>\n
- Method All-Purpose Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Erase the crayons and scuffs on the wall.<\/h4>\n
Take a close look at your walls and baseboards. From a distance, it may look like there\u2019s nothing there, but the smudges, scuffs, and subtle red crayon lines will stick out to buyers looking for a clean, new home.<\/p>\n
Grab a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser<\/a> and start scrubbing.<\/p>\nBonus:<\/strong> recruit your kids\u2019 help with a fun game of who-can-erase-the-most\u2026. Winner gets to clean the bathroom!<\/p>\n![\"stage](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/stage-home-to-sell-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (KayaMe\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nClean the bathroom of evidence from bath-time, potty-training, and teeth-brushing.<\/h4>\n
Let\u2019s face it\u2014kids don\u2019t have the best aim. Odds are they\u2019ve missed the potty, the sink, or the tub a few<\/i> times.<\/p>\n
Focus on the floor and edges around these areas to make sure there are no signs of mold or mildew. Deep clean the area around the toilet and the sides of the tub for splash marks and moisture. Wipe down the front of the vanity and the mirror for toothpaste-spit that missed the sink.<\/p>\n
Check out these green bathroom cleaning products that are tough on grime and safe for your whole family:<\/p>\n
\n- Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner <\/a><\/li>\n
- Bean & Lily Bathroom Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n
- Attitude Bathroom Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n
- GreenShield Organic Bathroom Cleaner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Call In the Pros to Tie Everything Together<\/h3>\nTalk to your real estate agent about the value of repairs and professional service.<\/h4>\n
You may need to make some updates on your home to attract a strong offer, but it all depends on your market. In a strong seller\u2019s market<\/a>, you can get away with doing the bare minimum home repairs.<\/p>\nBut in a buyer\u2019s market<\/a>, you might have to add some cosmetic features to sway buyers from the competition. Your real estate agent will help you determine which professional repairs are worth the money for your home sale.<\/p>\n\u201cIf they\u2019re able to, I usually recommend neutralizing the paint colors,\u201d says Smith. \u201cSometimes, we\u2019ll make a note to the buyers that upon move out, we\u2019ll paint the walls a neutral color.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bring in a professional stager to give your house a facelift.<\/h4>\n
A professional stager can make the dullest home look like a luxurious retreat. If you haven\u2019t purchased new furniture since your first child was born, ask your real estate agent if hiring a professional stager is a smart idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cHome staging is essentially the packaging of the product in the home selling process,\u201d Lin says.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat home staging showcases the advantages of the home and targets the buyers’ ideal lifestyle. A well-staged home will feel inviting and help the buyers stay longer in the home and discover its charm.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"home](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/home-staged-to-sell-.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Artazum\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nKeep Things Tidy and Sane While Your Home is on the Market<\/h3>\nPut play dates on pause.<\/h4>\n
Before you agree to host a sleepover, think again. With your house on the market, you need to be ready for a showing at all times. So, avoid bringing any unnecessary guests over\u2026 especially guests with muddy shoes and sticky fingers.<\/p>\n
Instead, bring your kids and their friends to fun outings. Kindly ask other parents to skip your turn for play dates until your home sale closes.<\/p>\n
Avoid stovetop meals and baking from scratch while your home is staged.<\/h4>\n
If you don\u2019t use the stove, it doesn\u2019t get food splattered all over it…which means you won\u2019t have to wipe it down after every meal. This simple hack can save you much needed minutes when trying to keep a house clean with kids running around.<\/p>\n
Ditch the stovetop pans to save yourself from repeat cleaning over and over again. Swap baking from scratch with pre-cut cookies. Try that new place on the corner for take-out instead of chopping up a storm.<\/p>\n![\"home](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/home-staging-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Iuliia Gusakova\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMake sure your real estate agent knows your nap schedule.<\/h4>\n
You know what they say, never <\/i>wake a sleeping baby. Steer clear of unnecessary tears and stick to a strict nap schedule. Let your real estate agent know that last minute showings are off-limits during that time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing is that everybody needs to be ready to leave the house. Especially if the kids are at ages that they take naps, it can take more time to get them out,\u201d says Smith.<\/p>\n
Be ready to show your house in a hurry.<\/h4>\n
When a buyer calls to see the house, your real estate agent won\u2019t waste any time. Their main focus will be to get that buyer in the door. Your job is to make sure the house looks amazing when they do.<\/p>\n
Remember this when you\u2019re sitting on the couch in your PJs on a Saturday. You\u2019ll have to kick it into gear, clean everything as fast as you can, grab your kids, and get out leaving nothing behind but the lemon scent of your all-purpose cleaner.<\/p>\n![\"stage](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/stage-and-sell-home-with-kids.jpg\")
<\/a>Source: (Rawpixel.com\/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that the buyer doesn\u2019t feel like they are intruding in someone else\u2019s home,\u201d says Smith. So be ready to flip your comfy down time upside down.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of times in the past, I\u2019ve kind of co-conspired with the kids,\u201d Smith recalls. \u201cI\u2019ll make a little game of it. I\u2019ll tell them to put their toys in the box as fast as they can, and I\u2019ll have a treat for them once they\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Have a plan to get ready for showings in a jiffy. If your kids are old enough to help, assign them roles beforehand. If they aren\u2019t, have a to-go bag ready with snacks and toys to entertain them while they wait in the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet into the habit of cleaning up every day, instead of doing everything the morning of the open house. It will cut down the rushing and the pressure as well,\u201d said Lin. \u201cA checklist is also very effective to help the kids to be on point on getting their rooms ready for showing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Use this showing checklist to make sure you don\u2019t forget something that could make buyers cringe (hint: double check that all toilet seats are down!)<\/p>\n
<\/a>Pick Up, Put Away, and Neutralize<\/h3>\n
If you had a nickel for every time your kids actually listened when you said \u201cpick this up\u201d and \u201cput that away,\u201d well, you\u2019d be none the richer for it.<\/p>\n
But until your house sells, you need to set the ground rules for a \u201cnew normal,\u201d which doesn\u2019t grant Jane and Joey the luxury of leaving their LEGOs, Paw Patrol characters and Nintendo game controllers sprawled about the living room. It\u2019s time to simplify all that stuff to a bare minimum<\/i>.<\/p>\nPare down the toy collection to just the kids\u2019 favorites.<\/h4>\n
To start, you\u2019ll want to pack up most of your kids’ toys and get them out of sight.<\/p>\n
Yes, this might cue the hysterics from some defiant kiddos. But the reality is: you are going to move out at some point anyway. Save yourself some energy when moving day comes and declutter your house all at once.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids can end up having a lot of stuff. So you want to move all the toys out and just keep their favorites,\u201d says Pam Smith<\/a>, a Duncanville, Texas, real estate agent who ranks in the top 3% for selling single-family homes.<\/p>\n Here are some ways to explain to your kids that their toys are going bye-bye and include them in the decisions about what stays and what goes:<\/p>\n *Ding! Ding! Ding!* <\/strong>Teaching opportunity! Show your children that it\u2019s good <\/i>not to waste and even better <\/i>to share toys with kids who need them.<\/p>\n Here are some options for places to donate gently used toys:<\/p>\n To maintain a manageable number of toys in your house, tell friends and family to only<\/i> give your kids experience gifts (trips to the zoo, museum, beach, etc.) for the time being. This will keep your toy supply low and get your kids out of the house more to help you keep it staged to sell.<\/p>\n Only keep your child\u2019s most treasured toys, and make sure you have a game plan for how to stash them away during a showing. Here are some awesome, secret toy storage options to incorporate in your home decor:<\/p>\n OK, we love Frozen<\/i>, too! But we don\u2019t need to see Elsa everywhere\u2013\u2013and buyers definitely <\/i>don\u2019t want \u201cLet it Go\u201d stuck in their head for the remainder of their home tour.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to take down posters and clean up their room,\u201d says Smith. \u201cEven if you leave the princess murals, take down extra posters. You don\u2019t want the walls to look cluttered.\u201d<\/p>\n With the excess toys out of the way, tone your kids\u2019 rooms down even more with minimal children\u2019s decor.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it neutral, inviting and simple,\u201d says Cindy Lin<\/a>, owner of award-winning staging company and online home staging school STAGED4MORE.<\/p>\n \u201cI see often times people make elaborate staging for children’s rooms; however, we are in the business of selling the space, not the furniture,\u201d Lin adds of her 10+ years of home staging experience. \u201cSo keep it simple, easy to tour and neutral enough to fit a wide variety of potential buyers.”<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to tone it down so buyers can envision the room turning into the space they desire:<\/p>\n Bulky children\u2019s beds make rooms seem smaller and are hard for buyers to look past\u2014and they need to be able to picture every possibility to entertain the idea of making an offer.<\/p>\n Car beds, loft beds, and bunk beds gotta go. If your kids share a room, replace a bunk bed with a trundle bed<\/a> or a classic daybed to show the versatility that buyers will love\u2013\u2014throw a simple desk<\/a> in and you\u2019ve set the scene for a perfect guest room-home office combo.<\/p>\n Kids spread their things out all over the house. Use hidden storage under the bed to stash kid\u2019s clutter. Buyers open every door in a house they\u2019re interested in\u2014but they won\u2019t look under beds.<\/p>\n Hide placemats and high chairs in drawers and closets when you\u2019re not using them (and especially during a showing).<\/p>\n You also don\u2019t want anything traumatic to happen to your child\u2019s cherished Blue Bunny stuffed animal or (god forbid) the one and only Blankey when you\u2019re not home.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the children have specific pieces of toys that they are emotionally attached to, take those with them during the open house or hide those toys in places that the open house traffic will not touch,\u201d Lin advised.<\/p>\n Not to diss your child\u2019s art skills (we\u2019re sure their scribble has real potential) but buyers don\u2019t care about hand-turkeys or spelling tests with perfect scores. They do, however, care about that beautiful stainless steel fridge underneath it all that comes with the house. So make sure they see it!<\/p>\n With your family photos layered on every built-in, buyers will be distracted from the original detail that you\u2019ve worked so hard to maintain. It can also block their vision of their family living in the home. Box up family photos and personal items to keep the space simple and expose the home\u2019s selling points.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to overlook things that you\u2019ve gotten used to in your home over the years, like locks that don\u2019t work, jiggly doorknobs, or unused drawers that don\u2019t open. Buyers expect these things to be in working order when they tour a home.<\/p>\n Go through the house and open every door, including cabinets and closets. Make sure they open and close easily and that there aren\u2019t any decade-old child-proof locks still hanging on for dear life.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been in a showing with buyers where we couldn\u2019t open cabinet doors because we couldn\u2019t figure out the childproof lock,\u201d says Smith. \u201cSo you should remove it or leave the manual or written instructions on how to open it.\u201d<\/p>\n If you still have young children living in the house while you sell it, leave the childproof locks on and provide instructions for how to use them for your real estate agent and buyers. Tell your real estate agent to notify buyers that the locks will be removed once you move out.<\/p>\n Cleaning with small kids is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. Realistically, you\u2019ll have to clean every day when your house is on the market. But, this deep cleaning list will help you kick it into gear. Do the following chores to keep your home looking spotless.<\/p>\n Little hands love to veer off the beaten trail and touch the top of every piece of furniture. Make it a daily task to wipe down every surface to avoid unsightly fingerprints or snack remnants. Pay close attention to stainless steel appliances and hardware that are prone to cloudy prints.<\/p>\n These Amazon top-rated surface cleaners are safe for every surface:<\/p>\n Take a close look at your walls and baseboards. From a distance, it may look like there\u2019s nothing there, but the smudges, scuffs, and subtle red crayon lines will stick out to buyers looking for a clean, new home.<\/p>\n Grab a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser<\/a> and start scrubbing.<\/p>\n Bonus:<\/strong> recruit your kids\u2019 help with a fun game of who-can-erase-the-most\u2026. Winner gets to clean the bathroom!<\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it\u2014kids don\u2019t have the best aim. Odds are they\u2019ve missed the potty, the sink, or the tub a few<\/i> times.<\/p>\n Focus on the floor and edges around these areas to make sure there are no signs of mold or mildew. Deep clean the area around the toilet and the sides of the tub for splash marks and moisture. Wipe down the front of the vanity and the mirror for toothpaste-spit that missed the sink.<\/p>\n Check out these green bathroom cleaning products that are tough on grime and safe for your whole family:<\/p>\n You may need to make some updates on your home to attract a strong offer, but it all depends on your market. In a strong seller\u2019s market<\/a>, you can get away with doing the bare minimum home repairs.<\/p>\n But in a buyer\u2019s market<\/a>, you might have to add some cosmetic features to sway buyers from the competition. Your real estate agent will help you determine which professional repairs are worth the money for your home sale.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re able to, I usually recommend neutralizing the paint colors,\u201d says Smith. \u201cSometimes, we\u2019ll make a note to the buyers that upon move out, we\u2019ll paint the walls a neutral color.\u201d<\/p>\n A professional stager can make the dullest home look like a luxurious retreat. If you haven\u2019t purchased new furniture since your first child was born, ask your real estate agent if hiring a professional stager is a smart idea.<\/p>\n \u201cHome staging is essentially the packaging of the product in the home selling process,\u201d Lin says.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat home staging showcases the advantages of the home and targets the buyers’ ideal lifestyle. A well-staged home will feel inviting and help the buyers stay longer in the home and discover its charm.\u201d<\/p>\n Before you agree to host a sleepover, think again. With your house on the market, you need to be ready for a showing at all times. So, avoid bringing any unnecessary guests over\u2026 especially guests with muddy shoes and sticky fingers.<\/p>\n Instead, bring your kids and their friends to fun outings. Kindly ask other parents to skip your turn for play dates until your home sale closes.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t use the stove, it doesn\u2019t get food splattered all over it…which means you won\u2019t have to wipe it down after every meal. This simple hack can save you much needed minutes when trying to keep a house clean with kids running around.<\/p>\n Ditch the stovetop pans to save yourself from repeat cleaning over and over again. Swap baking from scratch with pre-cut cookies. Try that new place on the corner for take-out instead of chopping up a storm.<\/p>\n You know what they say, never <\/i>wake a sleeping baby. Steer clear of unnecessary tears and stick to a strict nap schedule. Let your real estate agent know that last minute showings are off-limits during that time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is that everybody needs to be ready to leave the house. Especially if the kids are at ages that they take naps, it can take more time to get them out,\u201d says Smith.<\/p>\n When a buyer calls to see the house, your real estate agent won\u2019t waste any time. Their main focus will be to get that buyer in the door. Your job is to make sure the house looks amazing when they do.<\/p>\n Remember this when you\u2019re sitting on the couch in your PJs on a Saturday. You\u2019ll have to kick it into gear, clean everything as fast as you can, grab your kids, and get out leaving nothing behind but the lemon scent of your all-purpose cleaner.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that the buyer doesn\u2019t feel like they are intruding in someone else\u2019s home,\u201d says Smith. So be ready to flip your comfy down time upside down.<\/p>\n \u201cA couple of times in the past, I\u2019ve kind of co-conspired with the kids,\u201d Smith recalls. \u201cI\u2019ll make a little game of it. I\u2019ll tell them to put their toys in the box as fast as they can, and I\u2019ll have a treat for them once they\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n Have a plan to get ready for showings in a jiffy. If your kids are old enough to help, assign them roles beforehand. If they aren\u2019t, have a to-go bag ready with snacks and toys to entertain them while they wait in the car.<\/p>\n \u201cGet into the habit of cleaning up every day, instead of doing everything the morning of the open house. It will cut down the rushing and the pressure as well,\u201d said Lin. \u201cA checklist is also very effective to help the kids to be on point on getting their rooms ready for showing.\u201d<\/p>\n Use this showing checklist to make sure you don\u2019t forget something that could make buyers cringe (hint: double check that all toilet seats are down!)<\/p>\n<\/a>\n
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<\/a>Cover up themes, characters, and bright colors.<\/h4>\n
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Say bye-bye to bulky beds.<\/h4>\n
Create secret storage for quick stashing and hiding precious items.<\/h4>\n
Take down fridge art and family photos.<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Make sure doors and cabinets are easy to open.<\/h4>\n
Deep Clean To Erase Years of Built-Up Kiddy Grime<\/h3>\n
Wipe all surfaces clear of fingerprints and juice rings.<\/h4>\n
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Erase the crayons and scuffs on the wall.<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Clean the bathroom of evidence from bath-time, potty-training, and teeth-brushing.<\/h4>\n
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Call In the Pros to Tie Everything Together<\/h3>\n
Talk to your real estate agent about the value of repairs and professional service.<\/h4>\n
Bring in a professional stager to give your house a facelift.<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Keep Things Tidy and Sane While Your Home is on the Market<\/h3>\n
Put play dates on pause.<\/h4>\n
Avoid stovetop meals and baking from scratch while your home is staged.<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Make sure your real estate agent knows your nap schedule.<\/h4>\n
Be ready to show your house in a hurry.<\/h4>\n
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