Article Contributed by Kris Louis of ParentingWithKris.com.
There’s a lot of pressure on sellers to keep their home's picture perfect for open houses and private tours. This is easier said than done when you’re a busy parent. The good news is that your kids could actually help you keep the house in tip-top shape if given the right tools and directions.
Kid-Friendly Decluttering
When you’re selling your home, you have to not only declutter but also depersonalize. That entails removing the items you no longer use as well as those that would make it less neutral. According to RealHomes, it’s best to go through your home and get rid of trash and things you have no more use for.
This is the perfect time to donate items like clothing, toys, and accessories that are in good condition, providing your kids with life lessons about living charitably. Excess furniture or pieces that wouldn’t fit in well with staging should also be stored, sold, or donated.
Your kids can be integral to dealing with the clutter in their own rooms. You can get the process started by letting them know why they need to do it and how they can choose between their toys. It also helps if you give them options for where toys or clothing can be donated.
Let Them Clean
Getting a house ready for sale calls for not just a regular cleaning but some serious deep cleaning that gets rid of dirt and grime in every nook or cranny. According to HomeLight, cleaning can only truly begin after decluttering is finished.
As you go through each room, you have to pay attention to every part of it. For example, when you’re cleaning the kitchen, make sure you scrub the countertops, appliances, cabinets and inside the oven. If you have pets, you’ll have to use a few pet-specific ways to get rid of pet hair, smells and dander.
Your kids can help you with the cleaning if you assign them some age-appropriate chores. Your three-year-old can help to sort the clothes, for instance, while an eight-year-old can wash the dishes.
Maintaining Cleanliness
While the thorough deep clean would have taken care of the major dirt, you still have to keep it clean. According to EveryMum, you can fit some cleaning into your busy schedule by making plans to tackle one room each night. In that way, by the end of the week, there wouldn’t be an accumulation of tasks to handle. Also try to clean as you go and do your laundry several days of the week instead of just on the weekend.
Another helpful hack is to avoid making a mess in the first place. For instance, you can cut down on messes in the kitchen by using an electric pressure cooker. These gadgets are quick and convenient, and there are even healthy kid-friendly recipes that are satisfying and delicious. With everything in one pot, you and the kids are able to cook, eat, and clean up, easy-breezy.
Keep Them Busy on Open House Day
All the work you put in before the open house could be in vain if you don’t do the right things on the day itself. Buyers might not feel comfortable if you’re present at the open house. Having your kids and pets in the house can also put a damper on your house being sold.
The best thing to do on the day of the open house is to get your home in order and have a fun-filled day with your kids. Depending on their ages, you can have a picnic in the park or go to the movies.
If you want to leave a good impression on the prospective buyers, how about some refreshments? Refreshing lemonade or some toffee brownies might hit the spot for the people who attend the event—and maybe even entice them into making an offer.
Keeping a house clean with kids is no easy feat in general. When you add the pressure of an open house to that, it can seem impossible. However, if you get your kids involved in all the areas of the process, they can be very helpful in maintaining a house that buyers will love.
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