In 2014, almost 40 percent of homeowners who went through the home sale process had children living with them. Selling a house takes a lot of planning, and that’s especially true when there are little ones running around. Trying to keep the home clean and uncluttered on a daily basis is challenging enough, but you may also find that your children are having trouble dealing with the upcoming change. Your schedule is now filled with meetings and phone calls with real estate agents, attorneys and prospective buyers, and open houses and unscheduled showings are the new norm. Coming up with unique ways to sell your house when there are children involved without losing your sanity is doable, though it may take a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of pre-planning.
Do I need to stage my home?
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In a 2015 survey of roughly 50,000 real estate agents, almost half said that most sellers just need to declutter their homes and fix any glaring defects to help it sell quickly, and that staging isn’t always necessary. That’s good news for parents who have little children in the house, though there are some simple steps you should take to get your home ready to show. The most important things you need to attend to are:
- Painting: Give a new coat to rooms that haven’t been painted in the past two to three years. Warm colors give a cozy feel, but lighter tones make it easier for potential buyers to envision their things in your home. Wallpaper is a very personal choice, so it’s wise to get rid of any before you start showings.
- Cleaning: Though it might seem futile as you sweep up cookie crumbs for the tenth time today, give your home a deep clean. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, as a dirty sink or mildewed shower curtain can turn buyers off. If this seems insurmountable, take the kids to the beach for the day and invest in a professional cleaning service.
- Depersonalizing and Decluttering: If you’re wondering where to hide the toys, you’re not alone. Just remember that you don’t need to wipe out all traces of your children, but you do need to make their rooms look fit for a prince or princess. If you can’t bear to part with things, rent out a storage unit to stash some of the clutter while your house is on the market. Depersonalize by removing those music posters from their walls, and do the same with personal family photos throughout the home. Unfortunately, that also means removing your child’s drawings and school papers from the refrigerator.
How do I keep the kids from feeling the stress?
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Helping your children deal with the stress of moving should go to the top of your to-do list. In addition to all of the upheaval in the home as you prepare it for showings, they may feel sad that they are leaving their friends and school behind. There are ways to sell your house while alleviating some of their feelings, such as getting them as involved in the process as possible. Though you don’t want the children at home when you’re showing the house, you can take them with you as you shop for a new home and talk to them in advance about everything that’s going to happen.
Ask for their help as you get the house ready. While they may not be thrilled at the prospect of additional chores, they might love helping you to pick out paint colors, flowers and what types of cookies to bake for your open houses. They should take the lead in their own rooms by deciding what they will keep, what will go into storage and what they will throw out or give away. Depending on their ages, they might also be able to help you organize and host a tag sale. Little things will also help. Keep a calendar visible in the kitchen that has all of your showings, open houses and other home sale events listed so that there are no surprises. Just remember to put it out of sight before prospective buyers walk in the door.
What do I do when there’s a last-minute showing?
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No matter how much planning you do, there will always be those last-minute showings. Instead of panicking at the thought, put a plan together ahead of time. If you’re selling the house yourself, assign one parent to do the showing and other to be prepared with a fun field trips for the little ones. If you keep everything upbeat and fun, your kids will look forward to last-minute showings instead of dreading them. Most showings don’t take very long, so your outing can be as complex as a meal at their favorite restaurant or as simple as a trip to the local ice cream shop. Don’t forget your pets, as they’re always a no no at showings. Make arrangements ahead of time with a friend, neighbor or relative to take care of Fido while you’re showing the house.
Always keep an empty laundry basket by the door while you’re selling your house. When you get a call for a showing, toss all of those out-of-place items into the basket to keep your stress levels down and then pop it into the trunk of the car and take it with you. Get the kids involved by putting an emergency plan into place. Assign older children to give a quick sweep, dust or vacuum and turn on the lights throughout the home and have the younger children close all of the toilet lids and dump out the dog’s water and kibble bowls.
Though it might be challenging, there are ways to sell your house without losing your mind when there are children involved. Keep things fun, involve them in the process and plan ahead for a smooth home sale.
