We Sold our Home & I Lived to Tell the Tale
March 5, 2020Moving? Need Some Homeschool Organization?
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t want to sell their home quickly. However, as a busy parent who has to juggle kids’ schedules and your own to-do list, all while keeping a house clean, time really is of the essence. It may take a little extra time to prep your house and keep it show-ready, but going into the process with a plan will ultimately pay off — with less time that your house ends up staying on the market.
Dealing with the Kid Stuff
No matter their age or the number of kids you have, the majority of the clutter in your home is most likely kid stuff. When they’re little, it’s bouncy seats and swings. As they go through toddlerhood and continue to grow, toys that seem to end up everywhere. That’s why the blogger Hooray for Coffee recommends getting rid of old toys first. If your kids are old enough, take this opportunity to involve them and consider donating toys to a local organization in need.
The next step is to box up a good number of toys you’re keeping. Let’s be honest — kids only play with a handful of toys at any given time anyway, so they aren’t likely to miss a few in the short term. Then, designate one spot for the kid stuff that remains. Better Homes & Gardens actually recommends staging your playroom, which could also be your homeschool space. Staging this space shows its potential, but that includes keeping it neat and tidy so that buyers aren’t confronted with clutter (which, of course, is something they don’t want to think about).
Tackle the Rest of the Clutter and Cleaning
Once you’ve taken care of the kids’ clutter, you want to take the same approach with the rest of the house. This step will be easier if you can do it when the kids are away from home so that your attention isn’t divided. The process of home staging includes getting rid of any excess clutter, including too many furniture pieces, and sprucing up anything that looks worn. Then, you want your home to be sparkling clean throughout and decorated to appeal to a wide audience.
Get Organized
Getting your home ready to sell is only part of the process. The next step is to do everything you can to keep it that way. Organization is the key to making this part easier, and we highly recommend creating an open house checklist. Making this list gives you a handy resource to check anytime you have showings scheduled. Be sure to include quick tasks that need to be done, such as making sure valuables are secure, opening blinds to let in the light, getting rid of odors, and getting pets ready to go so they aren’t around when buyers come by. Not only does a checklist make this easier to do in a moment’s notice, but it also helps ensure you don’t overlook anything crucial at the very last minute. Most productive homeschool moms regularly use checklists!
Along with creating a checklist, make sure you also have a plan for getting rid of any clutter that accumulates. You may want to try keeping a basket for each family member — parents included — that stays at the bottom of the stairs or another central spot. Get into the habit of having each person use it to collect clutter at the end of each day. These baskets are also perfect for picking up in a pinch when buyers are coming.
Enlist Help
Throughout this entire process, one of the best things you can do to ease your burden is to get help. This can include help with child care, asking friends or family members to make you quick meals so you can keep your kitchen clean, and hiring professionals to maintain yard work.
If this sounds like too much, remember that it’s all temporary. Not to mention, the time and effort you put in upfront will pay off when buyers see everything your home has to offer. The ultimate goal is to get your home sold fast so you can move on and start fresh in your new place.
More about the author:
Other helpful homeschooling articles:
Organize Yourself for the New Year
Let’s Organize Those Gifts
Homeschool Organization: Record Keeping
Homeschool Organization: Summer Learning with Large Families
Homeschool Organization: I Can’t Homeschool in this Mess!
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