How to Keep Your Home Show-Ready When You Have Young Kids

How to Keep Your Home Show-Ready When You Have Young Kids

Selling a home as a busy parent can be a very stressful experience. You never know when your real estate agent is going to pop by with a couple of potential buyers, so your home always has to look its best. But how are you supposed to juggle your regular responsibilities while keeping your home spotless and show-ready at all times? While no easy feat, it’s far from impossible. These simple tips and tricks will help you banish mess and control clutter, even with your little ones running around.

Call in the Pros

Deep cleaning your home is an essential first step in preparing it for sale. If you can’t find the time to scrub your house from top to bottom, consider hiring a professional house cleaner. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to hire a cleaning service in Atlanta typically falls between $123 and $230. However, the investment is well worth it to ensure your home is cleaned to the standards of your potential buyers. You may even want to schedule weekly or bi-weekly cleanings while your home is on the market. This way, you will only have to worry about touching up your home before each showing.

Tackle Clutter

 Decluttering is an essential element of the home staging process. Apartment Therapy explains that clutter can make rooms, entryways, and hallways feel cramped and uninviting, so it’s important to clear out and organize every area of your home—even your storage spaces! A decluttered home is also much easier to keep clean, so paring down your belongings is a great way to simplify your daily cleaning tasks. Keep in mind that furniture can be a source of clutter. If your rooms are feeling crowded, consider moving some pieces of furniture into a storage unit for now (the cost of renting a storage unit averages around $87 per month nationally). You may even want to get your kids in on the decluttering action by encouraging them to say goodbye to some of their books and toys.

Get in the Habit of Constant Cleaning

Cleaning up as you go about your day will ensure you’re always prepared for those last-minute showings. Get in the habit of making your bed first thing in the morning, washing dishes right away, picking up dirty laundry off the floor, and sweeping the kitchen every night before bed. If your kids are old enough, give them some daily chores! Your kids could be in charge of unloading and reloading the dishwasher, collecting laundry baskets, wiping down the kitchen counters and dining table, and making their own beds. The Spruce recommends creating a chore board so everyone knows what needs doing and who is responsible for what.

Make a Last-Minute-Showing Checklist

 Be prepared for last-minute showings with a simple cleaning checklist. This will prevent you from running around frantically trying to remember everything that needs cleaning before you have to get your kids out of the house. Some important things to do during this last-minute cleanup include vacuuming high-traffic areas, sweeping your front entrance, wiping down surfaces, emptying trash cans, polishing mirrors, opening blinds, and turning on all the lights.

You may also want to be prepared with a list of places to take your kids while the buyers tour your house. According to SFGate, hanging around your home can make your buyers uncomfortable. And your kids might say something they shouldn’t! While no one can force you out of your home, it’s best to find somewhere else to be. Take your kids to a park, hit the mall for some shopping, or go to a movie. These fun outings will help keep your kids happy and can alleviate some of your stress too!

Preparing your home for sale is no easy task, but some smart planning can help you stay on top of things. Hire a professional cleaner to give your home a deep clean, get clutter out of the house to prevent mess from piling up, and get your kids involved so you have less to do on your own. While putting your home on the market may feel like an overwhelming venture, you will get through it alive. Your family will be settling into your new home before you know it!

This article is written by the talented Kristin Louis from Parenting With Kris. 

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