House on the Market? Tips on Showing a Home When You Have Children.....

The phone rings and on the other end it is an agent: “I would like to show your home between 11-12:00 a.m.”  You look at the clock reading 8:55 a.m. and respond “no problem” as you look at the breakfast dishes and the kids watching cartoons in their pajamas.  The mad dash begins.  It is like running a marathon without training.  It is a dance many of us are doing right now.  In this market you never say: “maybe at another time” or the door slams shut.  As a person who moves every year (I am married to a builder) I can attest that living in a home with children while trying to show it has proven to be one of the most daunting and difficult tasks ever.

I have found that you can never “let your guard down” when it comes to having your house in show ready condition.  Meaning—you basically cannot live like you are living there.  You have to keep everything meticulously clean, and when it is not that is when the phone will ring.  For instance, Friday I was in line at Waterway with my two-year old and received a phone call.  It was an agent who showed our house the day before saying that she left a message with my husband for a repeat showing-for that morning.  My car was already going through carwash and I had not made the beds or done my “run through” as I call it before I left.  I said of course “no problem” and about had a heart attack because I let my guard down and lived in my house!

Selling a home in this market is tough enough and when you have children it makes it that much harder.  Here are some tips that I have found to make it a little easier when doing  the speedy “run through:”

-As a rule of thumb clean up after every meal, no dishes in the sink, etc.  Wipe down the counters and clean the appliances used.  I love the (Method granite and Weimann stainless cleaners).

-Always sweep or vacuum after every meal (especially with those messy eaters).  This saves time if you have hardwood or tile floors and you need to do a quick mop or once over with the swifer or alternative.

-Windex will make anything look clean!  Glass, ceramic, etc.  I would not recommend on any other surfaces.

-Have extra tubs with lids that at the last second you can throw things on your counter, clothes, etc.  Then neatly stack these in a basement or closet.  Put a post-it on there so you know that was the bin you put misc. items into.

-Less is more!  Purge before you put your house on the market.  De-clutter so people can envision your house as theirs.

-Not everyone wants to see kids toys, etc everywhere.   I put all toys away in a closet and do not have them out.  Reason being not everyone has children or are at that stage in their life.  Keep it crisp and clean. 

-Do a quick swifer with floor cleaner to make them shine and smell clean (I love the Method Floor cleaner-Almond).  We have hardwood on the first floor and this makes the floors shine and smell so clean. 

-Finally enlist the help of your kids!  I have my 5 year old making her bed each morning and cleaning up her room before she leaves.  Otherwise you will be cleaning every room in the house.

Be patient, this market is frustrating—I am reminding myself of this.  Remember the second showing I had last week?  I never heard from the agent even though our house was a finalist for her client.  Do not be surprised if this happens.  In general rule of thumb is if they are interested and want your house they will let you know. 

I am fully prepared to get a call tomorrow as I have my house torn apart searching for items to get rid of for a school yard sale.  The minute you start living in your house again you will get the phone call that an agent wants to come.  In this market I welcome it!