5 Tips for Living in a For-Sale Home

Have you decided it’s time to sell your house? While living in your home while it’s for sale can be a tiresome task, it’s a financially wise decision if it means you won’t be taking on a second mortgage or rent payment each month. Follow these five guidelines for living in your home while it’s on the market and buyers are coming in and out. 

1. Declutter Your House

This is the first step in preparing yourself for a dual-life of living in your for-sale home but making it look as if no one lives there. Clear out family photos, personal items, books, knick-knacks and most of your personal decor. When potential buyers view your house, they are going to envision themselves living in your home, so remove any items that could interfere with that vision of moving into your home. If time and budget allow, take a look at going a step further by sprucing up your home with some simple remodeling projects that will add value to your home. 

2. Store Unnecessary Items

Having a place to put some of your furniture and other large household items is key to enabling potential buyers to visualize the floor plan of your home. Removing furniture will also minimize the chance of  a buyer being turned off by different decor preferences. Storage unit prices vary based on size and location, but the average 10 x 20 ft. unit is around $100 per month, which is much more affordable than moving into a second place prior to your home being sold. 

3. Clean Every Day

Challenge yourself to accomplish 20 minutes of cleaning every day. One day it may include wiping down all of your bathroom sinks and mirrors—another day it could be vacuuming the steps in your home. Taking on manageable, cleaning tasks daily will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed when a showing is scheduled because you won’t have to clean the house top-to-bottom all at once. Cleanliness is essential for home-showings. Make it easy for the buyer to imagine moving into your home—they don’t want to think about having to deep-clean the whole house before getting settled. 

4. Be Prepared For Showings

Potential buyers can show up with a short notice—follow the steps mentioned above to be ready for showings with little warning. Consider having a few tidying plan-of-actions when you get the call for a last-minute showing. For example, keep a basket or under-the-bed storage bin in each room to hide personal items quickly. Consider keeping your family’s bathroom items in a bathroom caddy—that way, toothbrushes, shampoo bottles and other essentials can easily be put out of sight. However, avoid storing too much excess in closets, cabinets or kitchen drawers, as buyers tend to open and look through those locations when viewing a house. 

5. Leave House During Showing

Try to be out of the house when realtors show buyers your home, including the pets! Buyers want to feel as if your home is their own, and when the owners are present it’s difficult for buyers to feel comfortable and ask questions that they wouldn’t want to ask in front of the owner. Keep a running-list of errands that need to be done, and save those errands for when you need to vacate the home for a showing. You’ll still be able to stay productive, even when showings occur. 

Following these guidelines will help you get your house sold faster and ultimately keep your sanity while living in a for-sale home. However, if your house isn’t drawing interest consider, these common mistakes of homesellers. When it’s time to put your house on the market, be sure to consult with an experienced realtor to get the most out of your home sale.