Prepping a Home for Sale: Tips for Busy Parents by Kristin Louis
Preparing a home to sell is a pretty big job, even if you have ample time to do it in. When you’re a busy parent, it can be stressful and overwhelming to clean, organize, and pack for a move while making sure your home is in great shape for potential buyers to view. There are so many things to consider, from cleaning at the last minute for guests to making sure there are no odors, stains, or damage around the house from wear and tear or pets. Decluttering is also important before you put the house on the market, so you’ll want to think about how to get started.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to get your home ready for sale even with a busy schedule. Getting your kids excited about and involved in the process will make them more likely to help out when it comes to keeping the house clean and the toys picked up. This can help to reduce stress about the process, so turn it into an adventure. Get organized and go through each room to declutter, clean, and deodorize. Create a chore list for each member of the family so everyone has a particular area they’re responsible for.
Here are a few more tips on how to prep a home for sale when you’re a busy parent.
Learn How to Stage Quickly
Staging your home is a crucial part of getting it ready for walk-throughs from potential buyers. It’s a good idea to learn how to do this quickly since you’ll probably be faced with last-minute calls at least a couple of times while the house is on the market. A few fast and easy ways to stage include tidying up surfaces and making them neat, opening up window blinds to let natural light in, and making sure the house smells great, especially if you have pets. Some things that may help you get this done quickly include decluttering, which we’ll get into next.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
Decluttering will help you in more ways than one. Not only will it allow you to make your home more presentable and easy to clean, but it will also help when it’s time to pack, as well. Go through each room and look for items you no longer need or want; make piles to donate, sell, and throw away. Keep in mind, however, that if an item hasn’t been used or worn in a year or more and isn’t seasonal, it can probably go. Talk to your family members about how they can help; kids can go through their bedrooms and choose toys, stuffed animals, and clothing they no longer want, while your spouse or partner can get started in the garage, basement, or attic. Consider renting a storage unit for those things that don’t need to be in the house while it’s on the market but will be coming to the new home with you; if you need an inexpensive 5-by-5 unit in Colorado Springs, the best value is a $29 option at SmartStop Self-Storage.
Get the Kids Involved
Not only will allowing your children to be involved in the prepping process help them feel better about the move, but it will also give you some much-needed help and will allow you to spend time with them as well. Turn cleaning and packing into a game, or play their favorite music while they’re cleaning to help keep their energy up. After a certain amount of time sorting, cleaning, or packing, head out for ice cream or milkshakes as a little treat.
Consider Removing Pets from the Home
Few of us like to imagine not having our pets at home with us, but in some cases, it can be very beneficial to have your animals go with a pet sitter, family member, or kennel while your home is on the market. Not only will it help to minimize messes, stains, and odors, but it will also prevent any stress your pet may feel at having strangers come into your home several times a week and will help the potential buyers view the home as it will be when they live there, which can help garner a sale. Think about what the best option is for your family. Also, keep in mind that, according to Thumbtack, pet sitters in Colorado Springs run around $15 to $20 per visit.
Prepping a home for sale can be a lot of work, but there are things you can do to ensure that it’s not overwhelming. Look for ways you can get organized, as this will help you tidy up quickly when necessary. With a good plan, you can prepare for the sale of your home with ease.
