Are you thinking about adding your house to the list of Spokane homes for sale? If so, you've probably done some research and heard how important it is to make your home look as perfect as possible before your photoshoot and showings.

However, if you have children living in your home, you also know that it's virtually impossible to keep your house sparkling clean and clutter-free for more than an hour or two. So how can parents successfully stage and sell their homes without losing their minds? Start with these five tips!  

1. Tame Toy Clutter
   When our real estate agents talk to sellers with kids, the first thing they recommend is taking control of their massive toy collections. Start by allowing each child to choose a few "must-have" toys that will remain in the home until it's sold. Then, clear out the rest. Pack up the ones they still play with and put them in storage, and give the rest away. Before showings, place the remaining toys in a bin that you can store out of sight in the closet.

2. Use Bins and Baskets
   Even after the toys have been handled, you'll still have plenty of little things to deal with. This might include broken crayons, small toys, and other trinkets. Instead of throwing everything away and risking a meltdown, use storage bins and baskets to corral them. This makes clean-up easy and allows you to stash them neatly away before potential buyers arrive. 

3. Lay Some Ground Rules
   To save yourself the hassle of continually chasing behind your kids and cleaning up messes, use this opportunity to lay down some ground rules. For example, make sure the kids make their beds each morning, pick up their dirty clothes, flush toilets, put down the toilet seats, and straighten out towels before they leave the bathroom. Enforcing these rules will make it easy to keep the house presentable!  

4. Look to the Pros
   You have enough to deal with without trying to take on major DIY projects. Instead, hire the professional help you need. This includes a cleaning crew to do your deep-cleaning, a staging professional, and a great real estate agent. You'll find that the value these people bring will far outweigh the cost. Not only will you sell your home faster, but you'll also have a better chance of keeping your sanity. 

5. A Final Sweep
   Even if you've followed all the tips above, don't make the mistake of thinking your house will be good to go any time a showing is scheduled. Once the kids are out the door, head back inside and give the house one final look. Double-check the bathrooms and bedrooms, clean up any scuffs that might have appeared, and check that countertops, cabinet handles, doorknobs haven't been soiled by sticky hands when you weren't looking. This should only take a minute or two but can go a long way towards maximizing your home's appeal. 

When you're ready to sell your home, finding the right real estate professional can make a world of difference. We take the hassle out of selling and are here to show you just how easy it can be. Contact us today to get started.