Preparing Your Property for Sale When You Have Children
Selling a home can be stressful, no matter what your circumstances. But the moving process can be even more complicated if you’re a parent with young children.
Juggling work commitments and the needs of your offspring while ticking off all your sales prep chores can be daunting.
So, here are some tips to make things easier.
Decluttering
Buyers prefer clutter-free properties, but the minimalist look is hard to achieve when you live with little ones.
From bikes and balls to trucks and teddies – children accumulate many possessions. While you can’t put them all in storage, it’s worthwhile scaling things back.
If there are toys or games your child hasn’t played with for a while, discreetly move them from view (or give them to a charity shop).
Place their favourite, most-loved items into a basket with a lid or storage bin so they’re out of sight during viewings.
General DIY
All family homes show signs of wear and tear, from scuffed skirting boards to muddy marks on the walls. Give any areas that look scruffy a fresh lick of paint.
Depersonalise
Put your baby snaps away for the duration of the sales process. Buyers can feel uncomfortable if personal items such as family photos are on display.
Viewings action plan
It’s best if you’re not home during viewings (buyers prefer seeing a property with just the agent so they can have an honest conversation without offending anyone).
For this reason, make plans for what you and your children will do during viewings. Drop in on a friend, head to the park for a kick-around or treat the kids to a milkshake at a local café.
Another option is to hold an open house so that many buyers can view the property in one day. That way, you can enjoy an excursion to the seaside or a fun park while your agent gets down to business with buyers.
Clean up your act
One of the trickiest things about selling when you have kids is keeping your home clean. Draw up a checklist of things to wipe down and tidy before viewings so that you don’t go into panic mode before a buyer pays a visit.
Always wipe down kitchen and bathroom surfaces, put shoes and scooters away and make the beds.
With planning and preparation, moving to a new family home can be the start of an exciting chapter in your life.
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