Kid spaces sell homes faster
I am very big about creating lots of joy around homes and I love to think of ways to involve my kids into the process so they get excited about it all. The catch is that kids don’t care as much about a cool dining table or a light fixture but they love anything that involves play.
After renovating and selling several homes with kids under 10, I came to realize that it is not only fun to add spaces for the littles but these spaces actually help sell homes faster. Plus...I get a lot of enjoyment out of creating a mini version of a dream house—it’s a lot easier and cheaper too!
While I’ve repurposed several older structures to create past playhouses, with this most recent project I worked with a local contractor. My kids had already had a traditional Charleston-style playhouse and a mountain-style house playhouse so I had to really wow them with this next one. I had quite the work cut out for me so I decided to add a second floor as the appealing element. I created a “treehouse playhouse” where the first floor is a cafe/dinner and the second floor became the lounge area. I even added a fire pole to this one! Talk about impressing your kids, I actually impressed myself this time :).
I was grateful to find someone who could start the playhouse in their workspace and bring it to my property after it was half completed. As you know, kids are super excited about new toys, so this helped keep the element of surprise alive. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you will see that Santa was the one who gifted my kids one of their playhouses. This time, Danny and I took full credit!
A few tips of what I do that might help you enjoy this process:
Incorporate the same color palette I use within our home. For this playhouse, I matched some of the doors and siding style to the existing shutters and exterior.
Get designs or things that have a meaning to our family. I found a great custom sign maker on Etsy who can match colors exactly and create awesome styles.
Add everyday life elements to the space such as rugs, lighting, plants, seating, and even wall decor. This is a great way to keep the project whimsical.
When selling, it’s important to keep in mind that families will always want to give their kids something special. Buyers want to envision themselves in your space and creating a unique spot for children helps them see their littles in their potential new home.
In our most recent home sale, the first question the buyers asked was if the playhouse was staying. They had already become attached to the idea of this feature becoming theirs. We love creating a mini home that makes the whole family happy!