Living in a Home You are Selling

Living in a home while it is on the market is often a stressful situation. That place where you spent your last few years now feels like a stranger’s home. Or you are worried that someone will want to see the house and you will have stuff lying around. Here are a few tips to make it easier to live in a place with a For Sale sign without losing your sanity.

Use Storage

Start packing for your move. Consider what you don’t need and either sell it, throw it away or pack it up. Pack out-of-season clothing, photos, knick-knacks and even the guest room. If you have a lot of furniture, pack that up and put it in storage. Just keep out a few pieces for you to use and that looks nice for showing.

Sort magazines and even your books or toys to see what you can live without for a few months and pack it away. It will be easier to keep your home clean if you have less stuff.

Clean

Go through your house and clean it from top to bottom. It will look good for open houses and showing. In addition, it will be easier to clean when you get a last-minute phone call asking to see the house right away. It also reduces the stress because you might only have a few things to pick up or a counter to wipe down to make your house sparkle and shine. At the same time, you can relax and enjoy being at home because you know it won’t take much to get it ready for visitors.

Lock Away Valuables

Whether your agent is holding open houses or just hosting showings, people will be going through your stuff. Keep private items and information locked away. Don’t just hide them since people will be looking in drawers and closets. Lock them away where you know where to find things you need. Remove valuables, especially small items like jewelry.

Deal with Pets

If possible, it is ideal to send your pets to your family or friends’ houses while your home is on the market. Otherwise, keep them contained and clean up after them immediately. Crate the cat and dog when the house is being shown to avoid scaring or distracting anyone.

Create a checklist of last-minute things that must be done when you get the call for a showing. This ensures that you leave the house looking good and that it takes minimal time. For instance, you want light left on and the right temperature. You can even set out a basket of fruit or a vase of flowers to be a warm welcome. Spray a fresh scent to make the place feel inviting and clean.

If you do the necessary work, it won’t take long for your house to sell and you won’t be living this way for more than a few months. If you are ready to sell your home, contact me and I can help you get it on the market.