“Let’s move.” Those two words can spark excitement and adventure for a young couple without children. But when I suggested this to my partner, he looked around our charming farmhouse, sighed heavily, and muttered, “I guess we have to.” We were running out of space with our toddler in tow.
The online world insists that to make your house “buyer-ready,” you need to create an illusion: a home that looks lived-in but untouched, where the inhabitants are mere shadows sipping tea by the window, resembling characters from a medication commercial. I aimed for an inviting scent, something like “Norwegian kids enjoying chocolate oranges around a campfire.” My poor partner had a muffin knocked from his hand one morning, as I couldn’t bear the thought of cleaning yet another crumb off the counter.
Normally, we wouldn’t bat an eye at spaghetti decorating the ceiling fan, but knowing that no potential buyer would want a “spaghetti fan” feature kept us in a constant state of cleaning, just in case someone wanted to view our little paradise. Realizing our efforts were in vain, we decided to embrace the chaos and showcase features unique to our home, such as:
- A Spider-Man figurine in the toilet!
- Thirteen dead leaves lined up on the dining room window sills!
- A crayon mural titled “Poop Weiner Hamburgers!” created by our little artist.
For showings, I was advised to dress nicely yet be approachable. I kept wearing the same maroon turtleneck dress layered with a hunter green camisole, but my husband would joke, “Blessed be the fruit,” leaving me to wonder if my fashion choice was more “farmhouse chic” or “post-apocalyptic sister-wife.” Having worked from home for a while, I had lost touch with my style; my daily look often included mac-and-cheese-stained sweatpants and a hoodie that looked like it had survived a bear attack. On good days, I might even find a stray Cheez-It tucked away in my outfit.
Every day, I worried our home would end up on one of those Zillow parody accounts that highlight the most unusual listings. Surely, the virtual tour would showcase my son trying to dress the cat in a Batman costume or my husband scavenging half-eaten chicken nuggets from the floor.
Feeling overwhelmed, I thought I was alone in this struggle until I vented on social media and discovered countless other parents hiding the chaos in their homes—some even stashing toys in the dishwasher or bribing neighborhood kids to take their children away for a few hours. We all shared the same fear: being exposed as the real, imperfect families we are.
So, dear homebuyers, my plea is simple: look beyond the crayon-stained floors, step around the baby gates, and overlook the mountainous piles of laundry. I assure you, if these homes can withstand the antics of toddlers, they are more than capable of handling whatever plans you have in store for them.
If you’re interested in more insights about life and parenthood, check out this post on home insemination. For essential parenting milestones, visit this resource, and for more information on pregnancy, the CDC is an excellent resource.
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- Selling a house with children
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Summary: Selling a home while living in it can be a chaotic experience, especially for families with young children. The struggle to keep the house tidy and presentable often conflicts with the realities of daily life with kids. Embracing the chaos can be a better approach, as potential buyers can overlook the mess when they see a home that has been loved and lived in.