Selling a home takes a lot of planning and back-breaking work, from cleaning and making repairs to finding the right buyers. When you have a busy schedule and kids at home, the process is even harder to get through without stress. Keeping the house clean for viewings and making sure everything is neat and well-kept is difficult even without little ones running around, but it can feel nearly impossible when you’re trying to keep up with your normal schedule on top of everything else.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are several things you can do to prepare your home for sale without creating more stress for yourself. Getting your family involved in prepping the house is a great way to make sure they stay motivated to keep it looking nice. You can also start decluttering and going through your belongings to figure out what you can sell, throw away, or donate, which will allow you to keep the house organized for showings.

Read on for a few tips on how to get your home ready for a sale when you’re a busy parent.

Hire some help

One of the easiest ways to keep your home looking nice when you have a busy schedule is to hire some help. If it’s in the budget, look for a housekeeper who can come in now and then and tidy up. This is different than hiring a maid, who deep cleans the home; there are many different types of helpful housekeeping tasks ranging from changing the bedding and making dinner to watering the plants and vacuuming. Hiring a housekeeper is ideal during this busy time, since you already have enough on your plate for prepping the home.

Fix it up

Most parents can attest that kids–no matter how well-behaved–can cause damage to a home in creative ways. From crayon marks on the walls to holes in the plaster and scuffs on the floors, there are many signs of damage you should look for, so you can make a plan for repairs. Often, they’re easy, budget-friendly fixes; a little toothpaste will remove marks on the walls, while scuff marks can be removed using a high speed burnisher.

Get the kids involved

A great way to ensure that your home stays in good shape for viewings is to get your kids involved in cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. Often, delegating work to the kids is a surefire way to keep them motivated when it comes to maintaining it. Delegate age-appropriate chores for your kids, and reward them for their hard work. You can make cleanup easier by providing baskets for toys and organizing spaces like cabinets and countertops.

Plan ahead

If you have pets, it can be extremely helpful to plan ahead and ask a close friend or family member to take care of them while your home is on the market. Not only will this help you keep your house clean and odor-free, it will ensure that your pet is safe and less anxious while potential buyers are over for a showing. This will also help you keep the yard clean and neat, which is just as important for most buyers as a clean interior.

Preparing your home for sale takes some work, and when you’re a busy parent it can feel like the list of tasks is neverending. With a little planning and help, you and your family members can get the job done with minimal stress and sell your home in no time.

Thanks to Kris Louis for being our guest writer for this informative article! Thinking of selling your home and looking to build? Browse our website and see what we have to offer!