19196448_sWhen it comes time to put your home on the market, it can be a difficult balance between continuing to live in the home and keeping it in showing condition. Each time potential buyers come through you want your home to be clean and make the best impression, however, it can be challenging to continue living comfortably and keeping up appearances.

The following are some tips for living in your home while it is on the market:

Begin your organizing, packing, and discarding now. The longer you have lived in your home, the more likely it is that you have acquired a lot of stuff. Moving is much easier if you’ve pared down your belongings to only the things that you really need. Eliminating clutter and getting organized helps to making keep the home clean easier also. If you have a last minute call from the realtor that potential buyers would like to come and see the home, the less stuff that you have laying around the better.

Rent a storage unit. Less is more when you have your home on the market. Having a storage unit where you can take things that are not absolutely essential allows you to keep your belongings without having them in your home. Things like too many chairs around the dining room table or, large pieces of furniture in the living room can make the space feel small. To create the illusion of more space, remove these items and store them in your storage unit.

Organize your kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen and bathroom are two rooms in your home that will be used heavily while it is on the market. Organize these rooms and create spaces where you can easily stow away items that you use every day. Small appliances left on the countertops make the kitchen look crowded. Make room in the cabinets or pantry to stow these away when potential buys come.

Hire a cleaning company. If your schedule doesn’t allow for frequent cleaning during the week, invest in a cleaning company to come in and clean your home weekly. You can prioritize that they clean the bathroom and kitchen only or, other high traffic rooms.

Selling your home can be an exciting time and living in the home while it is on the market shouldn’t be stressful. Follow these recommendations for making it all a pleasant experience.