When you’re selling your home, you want it to appeal to the broadest possible range of buyers. If you’re in a family-friendly area, it can’t hurt to stage your home with young families in mind. You’re still targeting a big group: one-third of all buyers have children living with them. Use these tips to entice young families to fall in love with your home.

Make it Low Maintenance

Parents with young children have enough hassles without a house that needs a lot of work. Many of them don’t want a fixer-upper or expensive repairs. Fix those faulty faucets and dinged up doors. A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color makes a home feel clean and bright, and it’s one less thing for the new owner to do. Don’t forget the yard: a lawn with simple landscaping and a smart sprinkler system will appeal to younger buyers.

 

Stage Bedrooms for Kids​​​​

If you’ve got extra bedrooms, stage them for kids. Choose gender-neutral paint and furnishings. Keep the decor simple and remove personalized touches if you have kids of your own. This includes pictures, artwork, and anything with their names. You want the buyers to picture their kids in these rooms.

 

Inviting Family Spaces

The family room needs to appeal to buyers as a place their family would love to gather. Up the comfort factor with cozy cushions and warm lighting. Invite in natural light by removing heavy window coverings and open blinds or shades. Consider keeping toys to a minimum in this room. If you’ve got a basement, stage the playroom or game room there. Or consider using the dining room if you’ve got one. Younger buyers aren’t interested in these, and you can repurpose it as something they’d like.

 

Updated Open Kitchen

While you don’t need a complete (and expensive) remodel, an updated kitchen will go a long way in impressing young families. Today’s buyer wants an open kitchen so they can keep an eye on the kids while they cook. New drawer and cabinet handles are a nice touch, as are new faucets and light fixtures. Consider replacing older appliances with energy-efficient models.

 

Outdoor Space

Young families need a yard where their kids and pets can play. Like the interior of your home, make it as attractive and inviting as possible. Make sure the exterior is clean and decluttered. Mow and maintain the lawn, weed, and remove trash or debris. Create an outdoor living space with patio furniture and a colorful outdoor rug.

 

Stellar Online Listing

Today’s buyers, especially young ones, start searching for their new home online. Make sure your listing makes a solid first impression. Clear, vibrant pictures are a must, along with a listing that emphasizes your home’s best features.

Even if you take extra steps to appeal to young families, all the basic staging rules apply. This includes decluttering, cleaning, repairing, removing personalized items, etc. You don’t have to go overboard with the kid-friendly touches to get families to give your home a second look, just help these young families envision your house as their next home.

By Laura Hatch

Laura Hatch is a former TV journalist in Knoxville, who spends much of her free time hiking with her husband and three sons. From The Great Smokey Mountains to Beverly and Admiral Farragut Parks, they’ve covered a lot of ground.