We adore our pets, but not everyone feels the same. Some people are afraid of cats and dogs. Some folks are allergic. You just never know.
If you’re looking to sell your home, you don’t want to lose a potential sale if a buyer walks in to a barking dog, mess on the floor or a litter box and goes yuck!
Here are some tips for selling a home with pets.
Remove Your Pets from Your Home During Showings
This is your best option to avoid any issues, liability being one of them. Your dog is an angel, but any dog can bite given the right situation, as I was told after being bitten by a Chinese Crested. We don’t want that to happen.
On the flip side, friendly dogs are often distracting to buyers looking at your home – which is why they’re there! If the potential buyers happen to like dogs, they’re busy petting your dog instead of looking at your home.
And we don’t want anyone’s cat or dog running out the door either.
Buyers need to feel comfortable in the space. They need time to look and imagine themselves living in the home. That’s hard to do with distractions.
Take Your Dog or Cat for a Walk or a Drive During Showings
Book a day at the groomer or board them. I know this is asking a lot, but taking them out for a short period of time will help your showing. If you absolutely cannot board them, make sure they’re crated when people arrive or, at the very least, sit in the backyard or car with them.
Your dog is probably stressed about the move, as well. There are strange people coming into their home. It’s hard to concentrate looking at a house with constant barking. Buyers will rush the showing, and that’s the last thing you want!
Repair Any Damage Done by Your Pets
We live with our pets and we love them, so we overlook a lot of things. Did the dog chew the baseboard when s/he was a puppy? Did they dig under the fence? Whatever the damage is, have it repaired prior to showing your home.
Clean. Clean. Clean. Then Clean Some More
Deodorize. We are with our pets on a daily basis, so we become immune to most pet odors. Have a neutral person come into your home and give you an honest assessment. Do they smell your pets? Are there any offensive odors? If they can smell it, buyers will smell it, too.
Have your home professionally deep cleaned. Please, do not attempt to cover up the smell. It doesn’t work. Have a deep cleaning done on your home. This will go a long way towards getting it sold. The cleaner the house is, the better.
Have Your Air Conditioner Cleaned and Serviced
Change the filter. It will help to rid the house of pet fur, hair and more pet odors.
Have Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned
Rake your rugs and carpets, too. You’ll be amazed at the amount of fur, hair and dust you pick up using a rake versus a vacuum cleaner. If your carpets are badly stained and can’t be cleaned, consider replacing them.
Declutter
Put the pet toys and things away. This includes crates, blankets, pee pads, dog beds, toys, leashes, food and bowls, whatever. The cleaner and less cluttered the house shows, the better. Try to remove as much pet stuff as possible, even just temporarily for a showing. It will make a huge difference in your showing.
Start packing now. You’re planning to move, so get going with the packing. Either store it neatly in your garage, if you have one, or rent a storage facility short-term.
Remember, the goal is to sell your home. And clean homes sell faster and for more money than cluttered and dirty ones!
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Are you selling a house with pets? As pet lovers, we’ve all done it. If you’d like to have a conversation or you need help, let’s talk about it!!!