How to sell your home with pets
We know that the process of selling your home can be stressful and there are many different things to do and keep in mind. Our team seeks to make it as easy and stress-free as possible, helping you properly prepare your home before listing is a big part of that. When preparing your home, the focus should be on the impression of prospective buyers. As a pet owner, there are a few extra things you need do to limit how much of an impact your pet has on those impressions.
- Keeping pet odor at bay is most important.
Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our emotions, our memory and on our perception of things. Keep in mind that not all prospective buyers are pet owners, whether due to limited exposure or allergies, they may be more sensitive to odors. Air fresheners and candles often just add more smells. Getting carpet and flooring professionally cleaned, changing air filters, and removing bedding during showings often will take care of the issue. If the odor is more stubborn there are many companies that can purify the air and remove odors from walls and ceilings.
- Remove your pet/pets from the home during showings and open houses.
As much as we all love our hairy/feathered family members, they can be disruptive while showing a home. There are a couple reasons you should not have your pet present when prospective buyers are looking at your home. First, there is the possibility that it could get out which could lead to a slew of problems. Second, pets can act very differently when you are not present. While we may think of our fur babies as little angels, they may turn into a different animal when alone in your home with someone else. I’ve experienced this first hand showing a home to a buyer a few months back. There was a dog that was caged in the living room and barked at us the entire showing. We ended the appointment as quickly as possible and the buyer didn’t give the home a second thought. If at all possible, take your pet with you when you leave for a showing as it can be very distracting and off-putting to buyers. Also take into account pet liability. In approximately two thirds of the states in the U.S. pet owners can be held liable for injuries resulting from a dog bite even if the animal has shown no previous aggression. So while it was previously mentioned that you shouldn’t leave your dog around for showings it can’t be emphasized enough.
- Fix any items damaged by your pets and sweep/dust to remove pet hair and litter.
Limit how much a prospective buyer will be thinking about your pets. As we established above, not everyone is a pet lover. The idea of living in a home where animals once roamed can put-off some prospective buyers. There is no need to totally eliminate evidence of your pet’s existence, but we want buyers to see and experience your home and imagine themselves living there. Be sure to remove all stains from walls, couches, tables, chairs etc.
- Clean your yard.
Pick up any and all messes in the backyard. Many buyers value their outdoor space and it’s imperative that they are not distracted with smells or stepping in something while walking around. One of the best tips, when selling a home with pets, is to make sure you don’t neglect the yard as this is just important to some buyers as the inside of the home!
