Moving is stressful. You’re trying to keep your home looking beautiful and score a sale. Yet with kids, the mess never ends. Here’s how to sell your house when you have kids.

As in many things, your attitude determines whether your toy-strewn lawn is an asset or a liability. You can swim against the current, engaging in an endless battle to keep your property spotless. On the flip side, you can highlight the features that make your home the ideal place to start a family.

1. Get Organised

There’s nothing like moving to make you crave minimalist living. Chances are, you never realized how much you owned until you started pricing boxes. To sell your home, you need to get organised.

Head to the nearest big-box store and stock up on storage containers in different shapes and sizes. If you have yet to build a toy chest for your children’s prized possessions, now is the time. Use rugged outdoor bins to hold sandbox items and sports equipment.

2. Find the Right Agent

Studies show 88% of buyers purchase their home through an agent — this number soars to 92% among millennials. An ideal real estate agent will locate interested parties and help them understand the unique features of your property.

Listen to your agent’s advice. They may offer suggestions on decorating bedrooms and appealing to growing families. For example, they might recommend displaying sports awards that highlight extracurriculars in the area.

3. Build Additional Storage

Homeowners love having a place to stash stuff. According to one survey, 60% of buyers claim they’d pay more for a walk-in closet in the master bedroom. If you don’t have this feature, consider sectioning off the room for an inexpensive remodel. Otherwise, you can add lots of shelving and hook options.

Consider how to add storage space in the rest of the house. Make use of cabinets in kitchens, dining areas and bedrooms to hide away clutter. Hang corkboard in the shed to organize rakes and garden equipment. You can also install locking cabinets along the walls for tools.

4. Implement a Cleanup Routine

Don’t let clutter accumulate. If you do, you’ll feel overwhelmed when it comes to a showing. Instead, implement a twice-daily cleanup routine. Clear away the clutter on tables and countertops. Run a dust cloth over furnishings and vacuum the floor.

Ask children to pick up their toys and put them away. This habit will instill good values that lead to long-term growth. In fact, children who complete chores exhibit higher levels of empathy as adults. They’re also more willing to help others in the community.

5. Hire Professional Cleaners

Do you work full time and raise a family? If so, you probably lack the time needed to deep-clean your home. When it comes to raking leaves and planting mums, forget about it.

Save yourself the stress by hiring outside help. You can find cleaners online and read reviews from past clients. Make a list of options in the area and call around to compare rates.

6. Repair High-Traffic Areas

Little fingers have a way of marring walls with prints and paint. Take a weekend to touch up the paint in high-traffic areas. You may not need the bucket and brush. In some instances, a magic eraser is enough to remove most sins.

You might have to get on your hands and knees to see all the smudges. Consider the eye level of your kiddo. Plus, don’t forget to inspect the floor.

7. Network With Other Parents

Talk to other parents in your network. Ask them what they looked for when they bought their home. What drove their final decision? Perhaps it was the school quality of the number of acres.

Talk to their kids, too. What do they love most about their new home? Maybe it’s the in-ground swimming pool or spacious bedroom. Many parents think of their kids’ wants and needs when buying a property. Use feedback to choose which features you should highlight.

Make Your Family-Friendly Home an Asset

You don’t have to resign yourself to selling a messy home when you have kids. Instead, follow the formula above to stay on top of maintenance and family-friendliness. In no time, that for sale sign will turn into a sold one.

What are your secrets on how to sell your house? Tell us in the comments below.