Back HomeHow Busy Families Can Prepare Their Homes for Successful Showings
Parents are often stretched pretty thin these days. When you add selling a property to work, school, and routine obligations, it can feel downright overwhelming. Putting a few well-thought-out strategies in place can save you a lot of stress when you’re planning to put a house on the market, and it can help you score a successful sale.
De-clutter and Deep Clean
When potential buyers come to see your home, having it tidy and shiny from top to bottom will make the best possible impression. Start by de-cluttering, including the kids’ rooms, and putting extraneous items in storage. Psych Central recommends having the conversation with your children about moving early on, and suggests giving youngsters small tasks to help them feel part as if they are a part of the process. Let them make some decisions on what stays and what gets packed. When paring down toys, encourage kids to keep toys that can be picked up quickly, as opposed to things like building block sets and glittery crafts.
Staged for Success
Once your cleaning is complete, the challenge becomes staying ahead of clutter and dirt. With the proper foundation established, Angie’s List points out you canstage your houseeffectively in just 15 minutes. The last thing you want is to turn away a showing, so be ready for showings ahead of schedule. Keep a basket handy for picking up toys, throw open the window coverings to allow in natural light, and have a trash bag for catching loose ends. Leaving a spot in your trunk means the basket and bag can go with you if necessary. Also, keep anair freshenerconvenient and address any odors from food, pets, trash, diapers, and the like. Also, be sure to ask your real estate professional if they feel Professional Staging would benefit your particular property. Watson International, for example, has a sister Staging Company that can help best prepare your space.
Hide in Plain Sight
When people come to view your home, they will look in virtually all nooks and crannies. They will open closets, kitchen cabinets, and even your oven. However, you do have a couple of reasonably safe hidey-holes in the event you are caught completely off-guard. Somelast-minutestorage solutionsinclude your washer and dryer, under beds, and if your sofa is against the wall, you might slip some things back there as well. It’s not a desirable solution, of course, but in a pinch, sometimes it can save the day.
Dealing with Decor
If you let your kids pick their decor, you likely have some redecorating to do before putting your home on the market. Generally speaking, potential buyers prefer depersonalized homes, decorated with age- and gender-neutral decor. One of the least expensive and most effective ways to achieve that look is with paint. According to some studies, certain colors are more appealing to buyers than others. Shades of blue are popular in bedrooms right now, or you can go with traditional logic and aim for neutrals, such as tans or grays. It’s fine for buyers to see that children live in the house, but make things as spacious as possible, and steer clear of themes, family photos, and collections. Painting is usually best in a clean and uncluttered environment, and once completed, you’ll be ready for house photos and listing for sale. Be sure to ask your broker for any color schemes or decor features that he or she recommends. Watson International for example has a General Contracting Company that can handle jobs as large as gut renovations and as small as a simple paint job to prepare homes to go on the market.
Preparing a home to sell can be stressful no matter what, but especially when you have kids. Declutter, deep clean, and depersonalize, then be ready for those last minute showings. Even busy families can not only survive the process, but find themselves to be moving into their new dream home in no time!
