Guide To Staging A House With Kids Guide

Selling a home can be difficult. It can be more challenging if you have children at home. This can be a challenge when you have to get everyone out of bed in the morning with a clean house, or it could mean having to quickly vacate the home for any last-minute tours that take place on the weekends or evenings.

How To Sell A House

Recent research found that almost half of home buyers believe staging a home is very important in their decision to buy a home. A similar percentage of buyers stated that the home should be empty or unoccupied by the seller. These are some tips to help you stage your home if you have children.

Basics Of Home Staging

You don't have to use a professional staging company to prepare your house for listing. These are some tips for DIY home staging.

• Decluttering:

  Before you list, take a look at each room and remove as much clutter as possible. The goal is to make every room feel spacious, clean, and organized.

• Give Each Space-A Singular Purpose:

  Over time, rooms can take on multiple purposes. For example, a formal dining room may become a playroom for children. Your rooms should be returned to their original purpose before you list them. These could include bedrooms, playrooms, or home offices.

• Personalize:

  While you love your photos and artwork from your children, buyers want to see their family living in your home. It's time to get rid of all personal belongings.

• Remove Signs Of Pets:

  Many children's families also have pets. Consider that not all buyers will have pets. You might not like pets, so depersonalize your house.

• A Deep Clean:

  It doesn't matter if you have children or pets. A spotless home is essential. After you have finished decluttering and depersonalizing, it is time to clean up your home. You can do this yourself or hire a professional cleaner.

• Avoid Using Air Fresheners:

  Scented candles and air fresheners only mask bad odors. Buyers know this. Instead of covering up the problem with fragrance, identify the cause of your home's poor odor and address it.

How To Stage A House With Kids

After you have covered the basics, it is time to take additional steps to depersonalize a home where children live.

• Disable Baby Gear:

  Get rid of high chairs, tub toys, and diaper changing stations. These items can be distracting and large.

• Remove Toys From Rooms Other Than The Playroom Or Child's Bedroom:

  No toys in the Living, Dining, Or Office Areas.

• Take Items Personalized With Children's Names Out Of Your Home: 

  Be aware that strangers may be present in your home.

• Set Up Your Playroom To Appeal To Potential Buyers:

  Do you live in a neighborhood that is kid-friendly with great schools? Your playroom should be appealing to children of all ages. Are you unsure about the potential buyers? You can stage the playroom in any way you like, even if it isn't for kids.

Stage A Kids' Rooms For Sale

Buyers search for homes based on how many bedrooms a listing has. The average single-family house in the U.S. has three bedrooms. You must make sure that each room listed as a bedroom is actually used as such.

A twin-sized bed is the best option for smaller rooms. It can make small bedrooms appear larger. Avoid bunk beds whenever possible. They can make larger bedrooms feel cramped or draw attention to low ceilings. These are some tips for bedroom staging success.

• Be Sure To Keep The Essentials:

  A bed, dresser, and bedside table are all you need. A rocking chair and a changing table are fine if the room is a nursery.

• Get Rid Of Any Clutter That Could Be Taking Up Floor Space:

  This includes baby gear, such as play tables, dollhouses, and bean bags, tents, playsets, play kitchens, and play tables.

• Keep It Simple:

  Choose neutral colors, no wallpaper, and no decorative touches such as light switches or decorative lights. Throw pillows, and other kid-friendly touches are acceptable. It's not your intention to give the impression that the space will need a lot of work to be usable as a bedroom for children.

• Don't Decorate For One Gender:

  Buyers with children will appreciate the gender-neutral decor and paint colors.

• Avoid Rooms With Kid Themes:

  While your child may love their dinosaur, rainbow, or pirate-themed room, buyers might not. You can paint over murals and remove wallpaper.

• Add Lighting:

  You can have several types of lighting in your bedroom, such as an overhead, desk, or bedside light. Remember to always open blinds and curtains.

• Takedown All Toys In The House:

  Keeping control of your kids' toys is difficult for any parent, even if their house isn't up for sale. It's more important to ensure that your children are safe when you sell your house.

How To Stage A House For Sale: What Toys Should You Keep And What To Pack?

For each child's bedroom, invest in one lidded basket. Your children should place their favorite toys in this basket. Once the home is sold, pack the rest in boxes in the garage or in storage units. These guidelines will help you decide what to keep and what items to store beyond the basket.

• For entertainment on the go, you can stash a few toys in their diaper or travel bag (more later).

• A few books that look good in children's rooms can be kept on floating bookshelves, nightstands, or bookcases.

• All arts-and-crafts supplies should be packed. Last-minute preparations for a show can be difficult with glitter, markers, and paint.

• Also, you should say goodbye to modeling clay and slime. They leave behind sticky marks and colorful crumbs.

• Stickers can stick to carpets, windows, and walls if you don't say "no" to them.

• Avoid toy sets that contain many small pieces, such as building blocks or train sets, because they can be difficult to clean up quickly.

• Place your bikes, scooters, and other sports equipment in a storage container so that the outside of the home looks just as clean and neat as the inside.

Tips For Staging Your Home For An Open House

These tips will help you quickly return your home to its staged condition.

• Make Hiding Places:

  Buyers can be very picky, but it is possible to hide important items inconvenient places. You can assign places to store your children's essentials in logical locations that are easy to access. You can store jackets and backpacks in your coat closet, extra diapers and wipes inside a drawer, or blankets and bedtime books in a storage ottoman.

• Bathroom Items Can Be Kept In A Shower Case:

  You can store your children's shampoo, soap, lotion, and bath toys in a convenient container that you can quickly stash under the bathroom sink.

• You Should Also Keep A Kitchen Caddy:

  It's not good for the appearance of a kitchen sink that is surrounded by sponges, brushes, soap, and sponges. You will need another caddy to hold your kitchen items, so it is easy to keep them all under the sink when you are showing.

• Daily Clean The Diaper Pail:

  Make sure your children are always using diapers.

• The Remotes Can Be Hidden:

  All your remotes for TV should be stored in a drawer, dish, or under a couch cushion.

• Invest In A Robot Vacuum:

  It is easy to vacuum your entire house. You might consider buying a robot vacuum that vacuums your entire house once or twice daily.

• Eat Outside:

  You may want to eat out if you aren't in the middle of shows. Or ordering takeout. If it's warm outside, you can have a picnic in your backyard. This will allow your kitchen to remain completely unaltered.

• Each Day, Deep Clean A Few Items:

  The deep clean is done. Now it's time to maintain the house while you are busy with open houses and showings. You can tackle a few rooms per day to ensure your house is ready for the next tour.

A Place To Take Your Children During A House Show

Parents and children need to be ready for any unexpected tours or showings. You can make a list of people or activities you enjoy so that you and your kids have something to do when you need to leave the house.

• Outdoor Activities:

  Zoos, parks, trails, pools, or splash parks.

• Indoor Activities:

  Friends’ houses, indoor play areas, mall activities, libraries, aquariums, museums or — if all else fails — errands.

Make Sure To Bring A Bag For Travel

It is possible for your kids to feel like their world has been turned upside down by the sale of their house. Being prepared with their favorite items and practical items that will make life easier for you is worth it.

Always Have These Items In Your Travel Bag:

• One or two of your favorite toys

• Snacks

• Wipes and diapers

• Books

• Naptime essentials

• Extra clothes

• A phone charger