Living in a home while it is on the market can be uncomfortable for adults; it can be even harder for children.
Maybe it’s your first time selling or your fourth, but this home could be the only place your child has lived. Depersonalization can be challenging for adults and even more so for children. The house becomes an asset when it's on the market and staging is a part of investing in the asset.
Selling a home while raising children can be a balancing act, with getting your kids off to school in the morning while prepping the property for a showing that afternoon. Here's how to make the transition smoother for your children — and less stressful for everyone.
1. Declutter together
Involve your child in paring down their belongings. Pack some toys away, donate others for children to enjoy and keep some for use while the home is on the market.
Pro tip: Go through your clothes and try on items to ensure you like the way they fit. Donate items that are unwanted. Pack out-of-season clothes that you want to keep. That will save space, which will help with staging. Take down their personal items and pack them up.
Older children will be able to have more input in decluttering, but they may also be more attached to their belongings. Involving them in donating and selling could help with the transition.
When it comes to sentimental items, you often don't need the entire collection to have a fond memory. Keeping one or two special items to represent a phase of childhood will help you accomplish the decluttering while keeping the memory alive.
If your children are now adults who no longer live with you, have them take things they want to keep. You can give them or mail them the box of sentimental items that matter to them. They might want to keep larger items, such as furniture, if you are downsizing.
Pro tip: Stuffed animals can be donated to a child in need through community programs. Check with your local police, fire and social service departments to see if they accept gently used stuffed animals.
2. Create kid-friendly zones
Moving is messy — and so are kids. If the children are very young, make sure to create a safe space for them to play while the house is in transition.
Section off a room or corner to house all of their toys and games. If you are undergoing major renovations, utilize baby gates to block off dangerous construction zones.
Older children should also have a designated space while moving and staging is happening. Sort out a few toys and games to have while the house is on the market, but make sure they are easily tucked away. Use bins or baskets to store toys neatly and keep your space organized.
Every item will need a designated home for staging, including school backpacks and lunchboxes. Find a place to hang these up or use your car as a home base for daily items like school supplies.
3. Give your kids some responsibilities
Once a room is staged and styled, it will need to be reset before every showing.
Pro tip: Take a picture of the staging for reference when you are resetting.
Make cleaning up a game and involve the kids in the process. Create a list of age-appropriate tasks they can do to help and ensure they are completed.
Checklist for kids:
- Put away dirty clothes in the hamper
- Pick up and put away toys
- Put away shoes
- Make bed
- Clear off the dresser or desk
- Put away schoolwork and hang up backpacks
- Turn off and put away electronics
You might need to help make the bed look nice and wipe down surfaces, but children can do a lot on their own. You will want to vacuum and refresh the cleaning in their room about once a week.
4. Make family-friendly features an asset
You don't need to hide all evidence of kids — in fact, highlighting the spaces for kids could be compelling to buyers who have or want a family. The spaces still need to be depersonalized, but generic decor that isn't monogrammed or personalized can remain.
Showing how a kid’s room or playroom could work in the house can be a selling point. However, if a buyer doesn't have kids, they could use the space as a home office, a gym or a den. Buyers are often looking for function over decor.
Common mistake: Avoid leaving bright colors, such as pink or blue, on the walls in kids’ rooms, so that the room appears neutral to potential buyers. Accent decor that can be removed is OK, but a pink nursery might come across as a project for a family with boys or no kids.
Selling with kids may require extra effort, but honest communication and involving them can help make the transition easier. Remember to have patience and give everyone grace, as selling a home can be a stressful experience.