5 Quick and Easy Ways Busy Parents Can Prep Their Homes for Showings

Preparing for a big move is never an easy task, especially when small children are involved. And showings can be a challenge, especially without advanced notice from your real estate agent. These quick and easy tips will help you feel confident that your home looks its best for prospective buyers’ visits — even on short notice.

Pick the Right Cleaning Equipment

You don’t want to drag a full-size vacuum up and down the stairs five minutes before the realtor’s due to arrive. Instead, consider buying a stick vacuum for last-minute cleanups. Stick vacuums are lightweight and easy to maneuver, even with kids at your heels. What’s more, cordless models allow you to move from room to room with ease.

Other helpful cleaning supplies include microfiber cloths (they grab everything) and kid-safe cleaning solutions. You can use a mixture of vinegar and water (plus a few drops of essential oils) for cleaning surfaces, windows, and even floors in a snap. As a bonus, choosing scents like citrus or tea tree oil can also cleanse your home of kitchen, pet, and kiddo smells.

Pare Down Belongings Before You List

While it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pack everything up before you list your home, paring down your belongings does make showings easier. If your home houses lots of clutter, downsizing before you pack for the move can help, notes Reader’s Digest. This way, you won’t drag a bunch of stuff you don’t want to your new place.

Also, think about packing up the things you don’t use daily. Even your kids’ rooms can be downsized, and you might be surprised at how much they enjoy playing with fewer toys.

Hide What You Can’t Pack Up

Unless you have a very particular prospective buyer, they probably won’t look under the bed or lift the lid of the hamper, which means you can hide plenty of things behind closed doors (and lids). If your kids have a toy box, this is a perfect time to toss everything in and shut the top.

Even if you don’t have built-in storage, a few well-placed baskets, bins, or storage ottomans can help conceal clutter. If you’re shopping for new furniture for your next home, anyway, think about whether you can add such items to your list.

Rearrange the Furniture to Your Advantage

Moving an armoire isn’t exactly a one-person job, but sliding a rocking chair around or pushing the couch up against the wall can make your space feel larger. Moving furniture around can give the illusion of more space, SFGate explains, and even help conceal clutter.

Instead of keeping your couch facing the TV, consider staging the furniture another way. Rather than leaving an open space for your kids to play in at the center of the room, move a table over to balance the layout. Once the prospective buyers leave, you can slide things back.

Offer Extra Perks to Prospective Homebuyers

You might not have time to whip up homemade cookies or other treats, but putting out refreshments for visitors is a nice touch. You can easily slide store-bought cookies onto a plate, drop some fresh flowers into a jar or vase, and offer bottles of water for the realtor and visitors.

Another thoughtful way to make showings more inviting is by stocking up on brochures for local attractions. Whether your realtor offers such services, consider showcasing information on local services and neighborhood perks.

Many homebuyers prioritize proximity to community amenities when shopping for a property. Families are particularly interested in the quality of local schools. Offering such details can help entice buyers to do more research — and possibly opt to put in an offer.

Each step you take toward making your home more inviting can help you achieve a quick sale. It can be stressful to prep for everything that goes with the transition, but applying these strategies to your prep may make all the difference for your sanity and your sale.

- Kristin Louis, Parenting With Kris