Guest post by Suzie Wilson
When you have a busy family, preparing a house for sale can sometimes make you feel like a deer in headlights. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take heart. Here are some smart strategies for getting things together for a successful home sale.
Think neutral
Selling your home in a competitive market can feel challenging enough, but when children are part of the picture, opportunities to prepare can seem slim. However, focus your mind on presenting your home as neutral. Your objective is to make your house as easy for buyers to envision living in as possible. Since you probably have a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time, look for convenient, smart ways to economize your time, money and energy. For instance, paint your walls in neutral colors and replace family photos with neutral wall art. Home shoppers might have trouble picturing themselves living in the space if they see walls in bold colors or personalized with family photos. Stretch your funds by searching for cashback offers and discounts at home improvement stores like Lowe’s. When selecting paint colors for your walls, HGTV suggests neutrals that take their cues from nature, such as grays, whites, browns, and soft blues.
Declutter Thoughtfully
Cutting clutter can be particularly challenging when you have children. Some of the first things to pack or pitch should be items you don’t use regularly. Offseason clothing, holiday decor, party goods, and other rarely used belongings can be boxed up and moved to storage. As far as your children’s things, Realtor.com suggests letting your youngsters select a few favorite toys to keep handy while your home is on the market. Stow them in a convenient tote or affordable storage bins so you can pack it quickly and stash it before showings. As for the rest of their things, box up and move to offsite storage. While this can sound difficult and expensive, you can actually use it as a chance to get a jump on moving. Consider taking advantage of online discounts and sales for storage and moving solutions like PODS.
Clean Thoroughly
Keeping a spotless house is one of the biggest obstacles for busy families selling a home. One of the best things you can do is ensure your cleaning supplies are both in good working order and convenient. Nothing can be more upsetting than having your vacuum break down or your window cleaner missing right before a showing. If your equipment is weary, it might be wise to invest in replacements. Retailers like Best Buy offer weekly promotions and coupons so you don’t need to spend a bundle on your purchases. And when it comes to scrubbing, wiping, sanitizing and deodorizing, you can find online promotions for household goods to help pinch pennies. One suggestion is to store those cleansers, some rubber gloves, and scrub brushes in a handy plastic caddy. You can slide it all out of sight at the last moment before showings.
Pack Bags
When it comes to grabbing things at the last minute, keeping a bag for the kids and a bag for yourself ready and waiting can help speed you on your way. Include all your basic necessities for entertainment, snacking and personal items. You don’t want to have to pack diapers, hand wipes, hairspray, books, or other miscellaneous and sundry things when you’re on the run and a buyer is on the way. Ideally, some experts suggest asking for a minimum time frame of at least a few hours for scheduling showings, but in the event you can’t or a buyer has a burning interest, you want to be as prepared as possible. Assemble your to-go bags wisely, researching the best deals available online. Shopping with retailers like Walmart offers many advantages, such as a great selection, good prices, online promo codes and weekly deals. The money you save can be applied toward outfitting your new home after you successfully close the sale.
Busy parents need not fear the home selling process! Present your home well to buyers and stretch your dollars, time, and energy with smart strategies. There are simple ways to prepare your home for sale, even when you have children.
Author
Suzie Wilson is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. While her goal always includes making homes look beautiful, her true focus is on fashioning them into serene, stress-free environments that inspire tranquility in all who enter. The Ultimate Guide to Prepping Your Home for an Open House is filled with tips, tricks and other advice based on Suzie’s years of experience in interior home design that will set you up for success.