We all love our kids. But let’s be honest, it’s a lot of work juggling the demands of small people when you put your home on the market.
But rather than simply hoping it all works out okay and then finding yourself completely losing your cool (it’s been known to happen!), here’s my guide to getting your home ready when you have little ones.
1. Include them in the dream
Let’s face it, you’re selling your home to move to a new and exciting life, and your kids are probably a big motivator. Explain to them how exciting it’s going to be in your new home and how you need their help to sell the old one. Make a game of decluttering and tidying their rooms. Consider getting them to pack away toys to send them on ‘holiday’ and turn it into a Christmas-styled opening for the new home.
2. Invisible babies
If you’re selling a two-bedroom home, it’s ideal to make both bedrooms look as kid-free for sale as possible, especially if you live in a condo. The cute nursery in a unit does not appeal to the career-focused, downsizers or investors who are the major buyers of these properties.
3. Honey, I reduced the kids
If you’re in a three-bedroom home, one of the children’s bedrooms can remain intact while with a four-bedroom property, a maximum of two rooms can be in a kid-format. This may involve the kids bunking in together. Allow the inconvenienced child to have the first pick of the rooms in the new home. Or failing that, deploy the usual bribery of pocket money and tech gadgets.
4. Keep it neutral
Pink bedrooms put off families looking to buy with small boys. The same goes for blue and racing car wallpaper. The teenager’s Goth phase may need to be discussed, and now might be a good time to repaint their room in more neutral colors. Encourage teenagers to remove wall posters (just for a while) and bribe them to stop using the floor as their closet. All rooms need to be clean, fresh and tidy as possible.
5. Ask for help
Now might be a great time to ask friends and family for help juggling the kids and their activities, especially when you’re trying to remodel or make improvements for sale. There’s nothing more likely to result in a short fuse than trying to manage ballet, soccer, four hours of painting and the car park at the local DIY store in one Saturday! A sleepover at grandma’s could be on the cards.
6. Hire some help
If the job ahead really does feel like a bridge too far, talk to me about getting some paid help. I know contractors who can be hired for repairs, painting, styling, gardening and improvements that will give you more time to hang with the kids.