TIPS
FOR HIDING MESSES WHILE SELLING A HOME
Under-bed storage. If there’s enough space under their
beds, encourage kids to keep their rooms tidy with rolling plastic or rattan
storage bins. Then, use an oversized comforter or quilt—or strategically placed
blankets—to hide the bins from sight.
Built-in storage. It may be impossible to keep things
from leaving kids’ rooms and entering the living room. Utilize furniture with
built-in storage, such as ottomans, or clear a drawer in the entertainment
center specifically to tuck away
any
roaming toys, games and other items.
Baskets and trunks. If you don’t have much built-in
storage or discreet space to take advantage of, consider buying decorative
trunks or baskets with lids that you can place around your home.
Suitcases. If you need to store toys in the back
of a closet, put them in suitcases that you can easily roll and move rather
than bulky plastic bins. Suitcases are also a more discreet storage option than
bins when buyers glance inside the closet to gauge how much space is available.
Donation. While your kids may feel attached to
every toy, stuffed animal or plaything they own, it might be time to downsize
the collection. Suggest that they start a donation pile, so that their unused
items can bring joy to other kids instead.
