How do you prepare to sell your house,when you are depending on the sale to move?

What do you do when you have rooms full of kids stuff and your own stuff do you start packing?when it could take anything up to a couple of years to sell or do you leave the house the way it is,how can it be a show house when you have to live in it daily,i can't make Stage it as i cant afford it I don't have the money for storage,i must wait until the house sells,that includes looking for another house i cant do anything until this one sells,what can i do to prepare,ant tips or advice on things i must do or know thanks