How to Prepare Your Home for Sale When Your Kids Have Too Much Shit
Whether resilient or not , the housing market in the United States has undoubtedly been hot for much of 2021. In some of the most coveted markets, homes are only listed for sale for a few days before numerous offers emerge. However, even in a retailer’s market, cutting corners when it comes to staging can affect the final purchase price, especially if small children live in your home.
Selling a home is stressful – especially for parents raising young children. Making a home to make it inviting and clutter-free for shoppers can seem impossible when your home is overflowing with toys, mountains of dirty clothes from dirty toddlers, and stray goldfish crackers smashed between couch cushions. But to do this is both possible and important.
“The script is one of the most important parts of a home sale,” says Sparkle Ruttler , CEO and broker of Promise Land Realty Group, a Michigan-based real estate company. “When a buyer is looking, they know little about the house, other than what it looks like and if they can imagine themselves living there. Even in this market, it is definitely important to show (your home) the best you can. When I consult with sellers, we talk about staging very early on. “
But for parents who are worried about making their home neutral and free of everything they need for their children on a day to day basis, while still living in it, the process should not be too intimidating or intimidating.
Start by quickly cleaning your home
When shoppers walk through a home, they usually try to get a feel for how their furniture and personal items will look in the space. Taking a few simple steps, such as making sure small items are picked up from the floor and aisles, can help. Likewise, placing items on the countertop in cabinets and packing the fridge magnets (and all of the art they hold) will make the kitchen appear less cluttered.
“One of the tips I give my salespeople is to just start by cleaning up the trash,” says Rattler. “Just put away the bars, breakfast cereals and other items you may have on the shelves – you want them to be clean.”
Get creative with storage
People usually move for a reason, and it is common for families with small children to simply need more space. Rattler notes that in small homes where items for babies and toddlers have taken up space in living spaces, sellers may want to consider a number of space-saving solutions.
Using large drawers that can be filled and placed in a closet, or pieces of furniture with hidden storage compartments can be a creative way to hide something at the last minute before being shown and then easily accessed again after. If there is no room in the closet or basement, use decorative boxes that can be placed in the corner of the room.
You should also store seasonal or infrequently used items in trash bins, which can be stored in garages, basements, or other more remote areas of your home. What kids need most on a day to day basis can be placed in more accessible places, but hidden creatively.
“Things that aren’t going to use every moment, start trying to pack them,” says Rattler. “I recommend things like containers or pieces of furniture like ottomans that open and have storage space. You have places where you can put these toys away in no time and run out the door before the show. “
Remember neutral is better.
If a prospect is trying to represent himself or his family in a space, the best way to complicate this vision is to post pictures of other people everywhere. Rattler recommends taking photographs and other personal items.
“Marketing plays a huge role in selling a home,” she says. “De-personalization is very important. You never know which customer will come to your house. So for you, your home can be a wonderful family home for you and your children. But if the buyer is a lonely person, he should be able to present himself there. “
Walls don’t have to be barren for a home to be devoid of personality. More general or neutral works can remain in moderation. But for older kids with wall decals or other decorations covering the bedroom walls, these items should probably come down.
Some potential buyers will definitely have children, so some family elements present in the room are acceptable if they are not too strong.
“We don’t want the house to look boring, but it should look as neutral as possible,” says Rattler. “You don’t want to completely erase yourself from the property. It’s all about cleanliness and organization. So, for example, when we do a production, if the room is a nursery, we will still make it look like a nursery. You don’t have to completely remodel the room. “
Call for reinforcements
The best news for parents who are concerned about cleaning up clutter in a child-dominated home is that they don’t have to do it alone. Rattler says the best place to start is by consulting the real estate agent you work with. If you really want to do your best, there are even companies and consultants that specialize in listing homes for sale and can offer help to those who are particularly intimidated by the process.
But even in a seller-friendly marketplace, the rewards for taking the time to clutter and depersonalize, whether on your own or with help, can be significant.
“Even though this is a seller’s market, you still want to be able to get the best price for your property,” says Rattler. “He is still competitive. Sometimes, even when a real estate agent or investor sees potential in a property, buyers may not be looking at the same things. They may see things as too much work. We see a vision, but that’s because we do it every day. The seller cannot do this, so the cleaner and more attractive you make the house, the more potential offers you will receive. “