Tips for Buying and Selling a Home While Preparing for a New Baby
Welcoming a new baby into your family is exciting and a little overwhelming. Welcoming a new baby when your family is in the middle of a move can exacerbate the “overwhelming” factor. Even while you’re trying to sell one house and purchase a new one, it’s important to prioritize the needs of your family and the well-being of your baby no matter how crazy things get. Here are a few guidelines to help keep the stress levels down.
Communicate your needs with your realtor.
It’s important to work with a realtor who understands your family’s situation and will help make your move go as smoothly as possible.
- Make a list of needs, wants, and wishes, and make sure you and your realtor are on the same page.
- Be clear with your real estate agent about what your home-buying budget is, and what you can reasonably afford.
- ●If you’re not ready to purchase a home yet, research rentals online and filter by amenities and the number of bedrooms you need.
Make sure you have everything baby-related in one place.
Whether you’re still waiting for the baby’s arrival, or if you’re occupied with caring for them, keep everything in easy reach that you need for your well-being, and for your baby’s.
- If your baby is due soon you should have a hospital bag packed with all your necessities (and a few extras for comfort and entertainment).
- Have a diaper bag fully packed not only with diapers and wipes but with extra blankets, diaper cream, changes of clothing, a changing pad, and any comfort items you may need, such as toys or a binkie.
- Pack a bag for yourself as well, with a change of clothes in case of baby-related messes, and any toiletries you may need.
- It’s also wise to have a first aid supply kit handy in case you or your baby need it.
Have helpers on call and standing by.
Your buying, selling, and moving will go more smoothly if you don’t have to take care of everything yourself.
- If your baby has been born already, you may need a sitter to look after them while you show your house, look at other homes, and during the move.
- You may want to hire professional packers if you are in the middle of the move around the time your baby is expected.
- Hire a reputable moving company you can trust in your home.
Selling your home when you have a new baby.
Here are a few tips for keeping the sales process smooth and successful even while you’re caring for a new baby.
- It can be difficult to stage a home for walk-throughs while you’re trying to keep up with childcare – but it’s important to keep messes out of the way, so have some good storage solutions on hand.
- Schedule prospective buyers’ visits to coincide with times when your baby will be calm and easy-going. But you probably don’t want to schedule them during naptime, since you don’t want to risk waking the baby!
- Or plan to have a sitter or caregiver look after your baby when you show your home.
- Clean as you go so your house will always be ready to show to possible buyers.
- Boost curb appeal by hiring dependable and well-reviewed lawn care services; search “lawn care service near me” to find reputable contractors.
Buying a home when you have a new baby.
If you are house shopping while preparing or caring for an infant, keep these tips in mind.
- Be prepared for unexpected expenses and budget accordingly.
- Make sure your new home has sufficient space to be comfortable for your family as your baby grows (and maybe if siblings come along).
- Consider child safety issues when looking at a new home. This includes dangerous windows or landings, proximity to streets, and any nearby bodies of water.
- You will also want to consider location, especially access to schools and health care.
- Once you purchase a home, get started babyproofing right away.
Even though this may feel like a time of chaos in your life, it won’t last forever. And the better you plan, the smoother things will go. Before you know it, you will be settled with your new baby in your new home, making memories that last a lifetime.
