3 Ways to Make Living in a Staged Home Less Stressful
Living in your home while it is listed, means that your home has to be kept pristine and perfectly staged. While it might be nice to come home to a perfect house, living in one is not always the easiest – especially if you have children or pets. How do you still live in your home and keep it in perfect condition? How do you keep your home in the ideal state for an unexpected showing?
Here are some simple tricks to making the selling process as easy as possible:
If you have Pets
Unfortunately, in many cases your fur friendly pets are not ideal for a staged home. For some people, it may be best to find another place for them to stay while your home is staged. Sometimes a neighbor, friend or family member will help out, sometimes this mean putting them in boarding –this option, however, can be expensive.
If you decide that they are going to stay at your house, it can be a good idea to designate them to only one or two rooms. Many see this as the best of both worlds as having designated one or two room to your pets means that they are home, safe and viable for lots of play and snuggles – while still containing any mess, making life easier when it comes to last minute showings.
Living Life in a Staged Home
Living in a staged home can make everything from eating at home to having any sort of company over incredibly difficult. Here are a few tips on how you can ensure that your family still remains close and entertained during this stressful time.
- A lot of people find that going out to eat is the best option when your house is on the market – this help to minimize dirty dishes and can make a big impact on the scent of your house. In order to stay on a budget, visit websites like Groupon or Restaurants.com for deals and coupons. Also, look into daily/weekly meal deals at your local restaurants.
- Remember that having your home listed on the market is stressful for your entire family. Why not allow your whole family to get involved. One great way of doing this is to make a list of activities to do on the days your house is scheduled to be shown. Ideas include bowling, going to the beach, zoo, museums, amusement parks, or even visiting relatives.
Keeping it Clean
Living in a staged home can be really difficult, especially when you have kids. But keeping your house clean is absolutely necessary in order to make a sale and to sell for top dollar. Here are a few tips on how to keep your home looking picturesque.
- Be sure to make the beds each morning; that way there is one less thing to do when a showing is scheduled.
- Keep all clothing items neatly put away and laundry baskets hidden in closets.
- Do not let newspapers, magazines or mail stack up; file away or recycle immediately. Perhaps keep the latest newspaper in your car; it may come in handy when showings are scheduled and you need to head out to a coffee shop or other fun destination.
- Keep only the essentials in the refrigerator and pantry (potential buyers are known to look inside). Unused pantry items can be donated to your local food bank.