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  • About
    • All About Theory
    • Meet the Team
    • Theory Companies
    • Theory Cares
    • Fill The Barrel
    • Blog
  • Buy
    • Buy With Theory
    • 2023 Homebuyer Guide
    • Home Buyer Bus Tour
    • Your Guide to the PNW
    • Featured Listings
    • Home Search
    • Sign In
  • Sell
    • Sell With Theory
    • Free Home Estimate
    • 1 Hour Cash Offer
    • Sold By Theory
  • Invest
    • Theory Investments
    • Theory Self-Directed IRA
  • Construction
  • Property Management
  • Careers
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Selling A Home With Kids

Whether it’s your first or tenth time selling your home, you’re bound to run into some challenges. One of those challenges can be selling a home with kids! Having children in the home during the selling process presents a whole new set of obstacles to juggle, and we know it can be stressful. That’s why we’ve crafted this list of tips to help you successfully sell your home with kiddos by your side!

Tip 1: If your child is old enough, explain to them that you’re moving.

Selling A Home With Kids

One of the biggest mistakes that sellers with kids make, is they are not upfront with them about the process. If you wait too long to tell them you’re selling the house, or they find out on their own, the surprise can be painful. They probably have some great memories in the home. Maybe they grew up there, or made friends in the neighborhood. If your child comes home from school one day to a “For Sale” sign in the front yard, it could be quite upsetting.

We strongly suggest that you inform your kids you will be selling your home. Letting them know about your future plans and explaining to them why you’ve decided to sell your home can really make a difference in how they process the situation.  If you’re able to show your kids where they will be living in the future, and point out some of the positive characteristics of their new home and neighborhood, they may be excited for the move.

Tip 2: Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Declutter.

Clutter is one thing that will instantly overshadow your home’s appeal. Give yourself plenty of time to clear the clutter from every room. It may take several trips to Goodwill or to a storage unit, but clear out those hand-me-downs and forgotten toys early in the process so you can focus on other things while you get ready to sell! Click this link for a list of things to get rid of before a move.

While you’re packing your kids belongings away before selling your home, make sure you do not pack every single one of their toys! Keep 2 or 3 favorite toys out so they can be readily available for them.

Tip 3: Give yourself plenty of notice for showings.

Selling A Home With Kids

If you have the option to specify how much notice you have before a showing, take full advantage of this! A 1-hour notice is pushing it when you have kids in the household, so always try for at least 2 hours notice. This gives you enough time to clean up the toys, gather up your kids, and get your home looking worthy of an selling offer.

Now, there may be times when your 2-hour notice doesn’t work. A family is ready to check out your home NOW. What do you do?

Tip 4: Keep the trunk empty!

You won’t always have a 2-hour notice for showings. Sometimes you’ll only get 10 minutes to gather the clutter, pack up your kids, and get out of the house! This is when you’ll want to throw the extra items in your trunk and go.

Tip 5: Plan fun things to do during showings!

Selling A Home With Kids

Whether you have 2 hours notice or 15 minutes, it’s important you have a game plan in place. Some great ways to spend time with your kids during showings of your home before it sells may include:

  • Going out to dinner
  • Grabbing ice cream
  • Playing at the park
  • Seeing a new movie at the local theater
  • Visiting family and friends

If you have little ones, it’s also very important that you have a bag ready and packed of the most important items your kid may need. These items may include formula, diapers, and toys.

Final Thoughts

Selling a home can be stressful, especially when you add kids to the equation! So remember, when selling a home with children, your home might not always be “perfect.” But by following these tips, you’ll quickly be on your way to a smoother, simpler, selling process!

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“I think that’s the easiest it’s ever been for me to buy or sell a home!”

Brad Rasmussen -

“

We had a distressed property in Tacoma that required a lot of repair before we could sell. The task soon became overwhelming and that’s when we contacted Theory Real Estate.  They purchased the property “as is”. Within 3 weeks,  we closed on the deal. The Theory team is amazing!!  Every person we came in contact with was friendly, professional and efficient.

John and Diane Simchuk -

“

We are new investors to this market. We met Isaac and Alan through a good friend, and we are so thankful to have met them. They are the nicest, caring, most professional, kind-hearted people we have met in a long time. We would recommend these guys to ANYONE.

Anthony & Sarah Wooden - Tacoma

“

We have bought 2 homes and sold 1 home with Theory. We would recommend them to all our friends.

Rhonda & Rickey Wilks - Buckley

“

We worked with Theory to find our perfect house, but ran into a couple obstacles with the seller. The Theory team was always there with answers and went above and beyond all of our expectations.

Ceirra & Kenny Williams - Spanaway

LET'S GET SOCIAL

THIS Saturday!! The path to becoming a homeowner s THIS Saturday!! The path to becoming a homeowner starts with getting WSHFC Certified for Down Payment Assistance & learning EVERYTHING you need to know about how to turn your dreams into a reality 💡Our very own Nickie Robbs along with Katie Arnold from Evergreen Home Loans will be your experts for the day as they answer questions, clarify myths, & provide the roadmap you need 😎Snacks will be provided, and the class will be held IN PERSON from 10AM - 4PM! Successful completion earns you official WSHFC Certification for Down Payment Assistance Programs in WA State 🏡 💰If you'd like to attend, please email karnold@evergreenhomeloans.com!📍 217 N Meridian, Puyallup (next to Meridian Cafe and Trackside Pizza, parking is in the back)
🗓 Saturday, May 27th
⏰ 10AM - 4PM
Happy Birthday to Jessica Helms, our Assistant Pro Happy Birthday to Jessica Helms, our Assistant Property Manager with Love My Space! She's been with us for the last 6 months and has been a truly wonderful person to have around. She gets stuff done and has become an invaluable member of the team! Happy Birthday Jessica, we hope you have an amazing day 🥳 🧁
Started the week off right yesterday with a class Started the week off right yesterday with a class from our CFO Erik about personal finance! He talked all about how to set up yourself and your family for a less financially stressful life, from now through retirement. We're always looking for ways like this to help bring extra value to our Team on a regular basis 😎The biggest takeaway from the class? Every great budget starts with a specific, well thought out system. And if you're curious to learn more about how to make THAT happen, you might just have to join our team and come to the next one 😉
Today we're celebrating the birthday of the one-an Today we're celebrating the birthday of the one-and-only Madison "Two Hands" Magruder! Mads has been around since just about the beginning, and was an integral part of the company throughout its early years. We're blessed to have her hang her RE license with us still, and we wish her the best possible day 🙌🥳💃
Happy Birthday, Rizwan! 🎂 We hope you have the Happy Birthday, Rizwan! 🎂 We hope you have the most special day!!
If I were you, I wouldn't pass on this charming Cr If I were you, I wouldn't pass on this charming Craftsman home in Aberdeen with an unmatchable value that you won’t find at this price!!📍 2215 Cherry St
💰 $345,000
👣 1,743
🛏 4
🛁 1.75This beauty features a HEATED 720SQFT SHOP WITH LOFT along with an attached 2-car garage & NEW ELECTRIC PANEL! On the main floor you will find the large Primary BR w/ slider to the back deck – as well as an additional BR, Bath and den/office space. 2 Beds & 1 Bath upstairs. Truly one of a kind, displaying handcrafted woodwork throughout: revitalized fir floors, redwood & old-age cedar counter tops, knotty pine ceilings, exposed post and beam, and custom fencing surrounding the property for added privacy. Driveway/street parking in front, alley access with SECURE GATED ENTRY, RV parking; enough for 6+ vehicles in back! Immaculate landscaping with back deck/patio.
RUN! Dont Walk to take a look at this stunner in p RUN! Dont Walk to take a look at this stunner in person!📍 5024 84th Avenue W
💰 $690,000
👣 2,206 sqft
🛏 4
🛁 3Welcome to this stunning mid-century modern home ideally situated on a serene dead-end street in desirable University Place! With 4 beds, 2.5 baths, multiple living spaces each with a fireplace, fenced back yard, front courtyard, and a 2-car garage, it's really easy to just come home and relax! The open kitchen seamlessly blends with the dining space, creating an inviting atmosphere & the primary bedroom is large & offers an en suite! Don't forget about the AC keeping you cool this summer! The location of this home in UP is highly desirable, offering a peaceful neighborhood ambience while being just moments away from urban conveniences. Nearby, you'll find great schools, trendy shops, delicious restaurants, and picturesque parks!
Incredibly inspiring night with Mike Smith! What w Incredibly inspiring night with Mike Smith! What was your favorite takeaway from this month's Tacoma Connect? 👇

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