Guest Author Bio: Kristin Louis runs Parenting WIth Kris, a parenting blog about strategies to flourish in different aspects of parenting.
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When your home is on the market, keeping it in its best shape is an important aspect of making a good sale. That can present quite the challenge when your time is filled with work and kids. Let’s look at some of the tricks you can use to stay on top of things until a buyer signs on the dotted line.
Declutter With Ease
Unless you’re planning to hire a professional, you’ll need to handle decluttering. According to A Fine Parent, decluttering can be easy if you develop a workable strategy that includes the kids. It’s essential to identify the main sources of clutter and tackle them one at a time.
Laundry can be a huge source of clutter so how about doing it daily? It’s also a good time to donate clothing in good condition. Toys are another major issue when it comes to clutter. To get this under control, use a few well-placed storage bins and encourage your kids to donate toys ones they no longer play with.
While this can all feel overwhelming, bear in mind that decluttering can have a positive impact on getting your house sold. It makes the home seem larger and it’s easier for buyers to see themselves in the home.
Clean Everything Thoroughly
The last thing your potential buyers will want to see is a dirty house so prepare for a dive into deep cleaning after you’ve decluttered. According to Care.com, deep cleaning is far more detailed than a regular tidy-up, so it’s best to take on one room at a time.
For example, when you’re cleaning the kitchen, you’ll need to wipe down the cabinets and vacuum the refrigerator vents. The countertops and pantry will also need your attention. At this time, your kids might be most helpful in cleaning up their own rooms. While they might not be able to deep clean, they can certainly make things easier for you by clearing up the room and dusting. Of course, if it’s just too much to handle, it could be good to call in the professionals.
Maintain Cleanliness
You might get ample notice for open houses, but you never know when your real estate agent might call to facilitate an impromptu tour. To make sure your house is always ready, Money Pit suggests adding a few quick cleaning hacks to your bag of tricks. Include things like a fast post-showers bathroom clean each morning and using baking liners to keep your oven free from gunk.
You can also get the kids in on the action by assigning them age-appropriate tasks for keeping the home clean. Two and three-year-olds can help with dusting and making their beds while six to eight-year-olds can help you by putting away the laundry. Just make sure to keep a reminder handy so they know when their chores need to be done.
Have a Plan for the Open House
You probably already have a hectic schedule so the last thing you want is to have a long list of tasks in your head for an open house. This can be easily solved by keeping a checklist handy that reminds you of what needs to be addressed.
Before buyers can have a look at your home, for instance, make sure you’ve secured your valuables and gotten rid of any off-putting scents. You’ll also want to make sure you’ve maximized the lighting in your house so buyers can see it at its best.
While it might be tempting to hear what buyers have to say, it’s best to leave the house with the kids and take any pets with you. To keep the kids occupied, consider taking them for a walk or on a picnic in the park, and keep a few travel games in the car for inclement weather.
Keeping your home in tip-top shape for tours and open houses can be difficult when you have children, but it’s not impossible. While you can hire professionals for the heavy-duty jobs, it will be up to you to maintain a clean, clutter-free house. Don’t shy away from getting the kids involved, and strategize carefully. With these little tricks, your home will be sold in no time.
