It's only fair to share...

Whether you’re interested in putting your house on the market or have already done so, you probably know that the process of listing a home involves a little elbow grease as well as various demands on your family. Everyone wants their home to sell for top dollar, but in order to do this, it must be showcased to its best potential, which involves some work in getting your home ready for sale and keeping it spic and span. Listing your home for the right price is a good way to ensure a quicker sale, so you’re not living in this for-sale home longer then you need to, but in the meantime, while it is on the market, you will have to make yourself and your family scarce for showings. So how do you live in a house that’s on the market and still manage to stay positive?

Follow these key tips to help you, not only sell your home fast and for top dollar, but survive the process.

1. Have a plan
2. Declutter
3. Hire a cleaner
4. Get organized
5. Get your children to help you through the process
6. Get a pet-sitter
7. Book a vacation
8. Stay motivated

1. Have a plan

Step one in the plan is to have a place to go with your children and pets on short notice and to be as flexible as you can with the availability of your home for showings. Step two involves engaging your Realtor^® to help mitigate the inconvenience level that your family will experience by setting up some healthy boundaries so you’re only executing step one during set hours. If you have young children who go to bed early, it’s okay to have a reasonable cut-off time for showings or having some black-out periods for napping toddlers. Putting up too many barriers can prevent people from being able to view your home, but a few reasonable boundaries in place can help keep your sanity in check.

2. Declutter

Less is more in this situation. No matter what your circumstances, chances are you don’t have much time until your closing date. Decluttering your home is the first step to take when putting your home up for sale. This will not only help in the sale of your home, but it is less clutter you will be bringing to your new home. Getting the unnecessary items out of your home and solving those minor issues can take away some of that moving day stress as well make your house show better to potential buyers by creating a more open, fresh space.

3. Hire a cleaner

One of the most demanding aspects of selling your house is keeping it clean. Let’s face it, most of our homes are not “showing” ready 24-hours of the day – especially if you have pets or children. Hiring some extra help will go a long way when trying to keep your house as clean as possible so that all you have to worry about is tidying up. The less clutter you have to worry about, the better!

4. Get organized

You may be tempted to put off packing, thinking you have plenty of time, but your move-out date can sneak up on you. Getting your packing done sooner will not only help with the decluttering process, but it’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of the big move. Getting everything organized and prepared now will allow your moving day run much smoother.

5. Get your children to help you through the process

We all love our children, but they sure know how to make a mess. If you have children, try getting them involved in the selling process, whether that be helping you pack some boxes, or having a chore to do each week to keep the house clean. This will take some weight off your back and will also help your kids learn about responsibility. Give them a job and pay them for it! If this doesn’t work, try hiring a babysitter a couple of days a week to give you some time to get the house organized and ready to sell.

6. Get a pet-sitter

If you’re an animal lover who lets your little fur baby lay on the couch or bed, the fur they will undoubtedly leave behind will mean constant cleaning. Why not give your pet a little vacation and take them to dog daycare for the day, or even a boarding kennel for a few days a week? This will give you one less thing to worry about during this whole process and gives your animal a little vacation. You may have a family member or neighbour who would be willing to help you out in a pinch, but it’s best to get your resources lined up first.

7. Book a vacation

Need a good excuse to go on a vacation? Well, here it is. After you’ve decluttered and cleaned your home, why not go away for a bit? This will not only ensure your house will stay spic and span but you can get in some much-needed R and R at the same time. Wherever you go, make sure you’re not more than a phone call away in case an offer comes in.

8. Stay motivated

Oddly enough, one of the most important tips we can give you when selling your home is to try your best to stay optimistic and keep your eye on the prize. Hearing feedback from other Realtors^® and potential buyers can feel personal and overwhelming at times. Every home has its own unique buyer, and if you’ve done your part and have a good team behind you, your home’s buyer will come along.

It's only fair to share...