getting ready to sell with two under 5's

[pink1970girl]

help please!!!
We have just found out that we almost are ready to put the house on the market and move into rented place while the extension is being built on the house that we are going to buy, (mum and dads, who will be living in the extension). Where on earth do we start, we don't have a flat surface in the house which is empty, feeling completely over-whelmed, any tips please? we have ds almost 2 at home and dd 4 years at nursery school. thanks in advance xx

Sorry if I've misread your thread, but if you're moving into rented accommodation before you sell anyhow can't you move there a little bit earlier (ok, so it'll be chaos, but not forever), and then get estate agents photos taken/start viewings etc AFTER you've moved out - maybe just leave behind some bits of furniture and nice pictures to make it look 'dressed'?

sorry, i didn't make it very clear...we have to sell while we are living in the house and move into rented place when ours is sold, thanks for commenting anyway xx

I am in the same position, I have two weeks to get everything done before we go to market. I have asked my sister if we can fill her spare room up with our baby stuff (holding onto it as hope for another baby) and big toys. I am calling in favours for baby sitting at weekends so me and DH can do the outstanding DIY. Am putting stuff into nearly new sale coming up. Will be ruthless about putting things in the bin/freecycle/cheapcycle/ebay. Look at everything and think whether you like it enough to cart to your new house and find it a home.

Consider putting all of it in bin bags and renting a storage unit?

Ah, sorry pink understand you now. Er... get a storage unit/borrow a mate's garage for stuff? Throw toys/hoover etc in your car before viewings arrive...good luck!

a brilliant idea for a storage place, just ordered some of those storage bags that you suck the air out of and i guess i'll be packing stuff...

I have just sold with 2 under 5s. Our house is big but we were ruthless about keeping it tidy. Luckily most viewings took place at the weekends so I tidied up on Friday night and then chased the children around picking up after them until we could leave the house on Saturdays. It was hard work but I do think it was worth it in terms of how the house looked.

I agree about packing up as much as possible and storing it out of the house. I also put last minute things into my car!!

With my 5 year old, I also found that bribery worked quite well (i.e. you keep it tidy and I will buy you an ice cream etc!!)

Definitely hire a storage unit, we're planning on doing this when we move with just one under 5 You could then empty the shed/garage of useless stuff and then fill it with everyday items you don't want cluttering up the house during viewings (e.g. highchair, toys etc).