Hello ,
I worked for Dowlen Construction painting for over 25 years and as a trim carpenter for around 5 years. I studied mechanical engineering and business at Chattanooga State. I enjoy photography, hiking and camping with my wife and wood working. I am married and we live in the city of Red Bank even though our mailing address is Hixson. I have attended Oakwood Baptist Church in Chattanooga since 2004 with my wife. We were married there in 2006.
Tips for Keeping Your For-Sale Home Spotless with Kids Around
May 9, 2019Photo via Pixabay
Tips for Keeping Your For-Sale Home Spotless with Kids Around
When you’re selling a home, more buyers mean more competition, higher offers, and a faster sale. Decluttering, cleaning, and staging are all crucial for attracting interested buyers. However, keeping a home show-ready can be significantly more difficult for parents; after all, kids are notorious mess-makers! Here are some smart ways to prepare your home for sale and keep it spotless and tidy while it’s on the market.
Get Help from the Pros
If you’re a busy parent with a little extra room in your budget, consider hiring professionals to help you out. Professional landscapers, interior cleaners, and home stagers can easily take the pressure off. For a professional home staging, you can expect to pay about $822. While this may seem like a large expense, staged homes on average sell 73 percent faster and often boost the final sale price by thousands of dollars.
Banish Clutter
Decluttering your home is the most important thing to do before listing it for sale. Clutter repels potential buyers. A cluttered home appears cramped, short on storage space, and gives potential buyers the impression that the house hasn’t been properly maintained. The clutter itself can be distracting to buyers who are assessing whether your home will suit their life. It can even make the home feel unclean, no matter how much dusting and polishing up you do.
As you’re boxing up family photos, knick-knacks, and excessive decorations, consider donating or selling your unwanted items. Also, have your kids help out by going through their own belongings. You can encourage your kids by holding a yard sale and giving them the proceeds from any sold toys. Alternatively, explain to your child that they can make other kids happy by donating their toys to less fortunate families.
For the stuff you’re hanging onto, rent a storage space or ask a friend if you can keep your boxes at their place. Packing your garage full of boxes and furniture can disguise its potential. Many homeowners see the garage as an extra room for hobbies or an at-home gym, so keep it as clean and organized as you possibly can.
Paint Over Bold Colors
Once your house is clutter-free, consider slapping a fresh coat of paint on the walls. This is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to boost the value of your home. According to MarketWatch, certain wall colors can really hurt your selling price. Dark brown, orange, and slate gray should be avoided. If your kids' rooms are painted in glaring colors or pink, purple, or bright green, cover these with soft, neutral hues. The goal is to depersonalize your home so that potential buyers can picture themselves living there.
Clean from Top to Bottom
Cleaning will feel like a never-ending task. Give your home an initial deep clean so you can minimize your daily chores. Clean from the top down, dusting the tops of your cabinets, light fixtures, and fan blades first. End your cleaning session with your floors, taking the opportunity to vacuum lampshades and upholstered furniture. For tips from a professional cleaner, check out this deep cleaning guide from DenGarden.com.
Maintain a Regular Cleaning Routine
You never know when your real estate agent will call about a showing, so stay on top of daily cleaning. Wash the dishes, make the beds, and touch-up the bathroom whenever possible. You can ask your kids to help you out if they’re willing. However, moving can be stressful for them too, and maintaining their regular routine may be a better option.
Right before a showing, follow this 10-minute cleanup guide. Walk around with a bin and throw any bits of clutter into it. Grab an all-purpose cleaner for wiping down countertops and polishing your faucets. It’s also a good idea to keep a separate set of towels in the kitchen and bathroom which you can swap out right before a showing.
Keeping your home clean may feel like a never-ending headache. Eventually, you’ll develop a system that works best for you, whether this means getting the kids involved or distracting them with their favorite TV show while you straighten up the house. In the end, all this work will pay off when you find the buyer you’ve been waiting for!
Posted by Kris Louis. Posted In : Homeowner tips
Hello,
I worked for Dowlen Construction for over 15 year with my brother Scott. I studied Commercial Art at Chattanooga State. I have mostly painted since I started working. It is not fine art work but their is a art to painting fine.