Buying and Selling with Kids: Without Losing Your Mind!

If you are currently tripping over toys, desperately wishing for a dedicated playroom, or realizing your teenagers can no longer share a single bathroom, it is absolutely time to upsize. But the thought of keeping your current house spotless for showings while simultaneously dragging the kids to look at new homes can feel incredibly daunting.

Having gone through this process with countless families – and having raised our own kids right here in Alexandria – we promise you will survive! Here are our top strategies for buying and selling with kids underfoot, without losing your mind.

1. The Pre-Listing Purge and Pack

The golden rule of selling a home is decluttering, but this is especially crucial when you have kids. You are moving to get more space, so don’t bring things you no longer need.

Declutter ruthlessly: Now is the time to give away, donate, or sell toys, clothes, and baby gear your kids have outgrown.
Box up the bulk: Rent a small storage unit or use a pod for large, brightly colored plastic toys, out-of-season clothes, and excess furniture. Your current home will instantly feel larger to potential buyers.
Depersonalize: As cute as your kids are, buyers need to picture their family in the home. Take down family photos, pack up the artwork on the fridge, and paint over any highly personalized murals in the bedrooms with a fresh, neutral color.

Read our ultimate guide to selling a home in Alexandria for a complete look at the process of selling your home.

2. The “Show-Ready” Survival Kit

Keeping a house pristine with kids on summer vacation is an Olympic sport. You need systems in place for when an agent calls to schedule a last-minute showing.

Invest in “Catch-All” Bins: Buy a few stylish, opaque baskets with lids for the main living spaces. When you get a showing request, you can instantly sweep action figures, markers, and books into the bins, pop the lids on, and slide them under a bed or into the trunk of your car.
Plan a “Getaway” Weekend: The first weekend your home goes on the market is usually the busiest. Instead of constantly leaving and coming back, plan a mini-vacation. Go visit family, book a fun weekend trip, or have a staycation at a local hotel. Let us handle the open houses and back-to-back showings while you relax. We’ve even rounded up a list of weekend getaways from DC for you!
Batch Your Showings: If you are staying in the home, dictate the schedule. Pick two nights a week to take the kids out for dinner and a trip to a local park, and let your Realtor know those are the designated showing blocks.

Get answers to all your home-selling questions with these posts next:

3. House Hunting for the “Move-Up” Home

When you are looking for your next, larger home, touring houses with an entourage can be exhausting.

Divide and Conquer: If possible, try to do the initial scouting without the kids. Let us take you to see the top contenders first. Once you have narrowed it down to your favorite two or three homes, bring the kids along to get their buy-in and let them pick out their new rooms.
Look for the Right Floor Plan: As you look at larger homes, think about how the space will function as your kids grow. Is there a sightline from the kitchen to the backyard? Is there a designated space (like a finished basement or loft) where older kids can hang out with friends?

4. Managing the Overlap

Buying and selling at the same time is a delicate dance. If your current home sells before you find the perfect upsize property, try to negotiate a rent-back agreement. This allows you to stay in your current home for 30 to 60 days after closing, so you only have to move your family—and all their stuff—once.

Keep reading these tips for buying and selling a home at the same time.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Selling a home when you have kids is chaotic, but it is temporary. Just keep picturing that extra bedroom, the bigger backyard, and the expanded kitchen island in your new home.

If you are feeling the squeeze in your current space and want to explore what your home is worth this summer, we are here to help you build a seamless, stress-free plan.

Reach out anytime to start the conversation!

Sue Goodhart | sue@thegoodhartgroup.com

Allison Goodhart DuShuttle | allison@thegoodhartgroup.com

Phone: 703-362-3221