How to Sell Your Home When You Own Pets
Owning pets is more than a pastime for many people. It’s a passion. Having a companion animal or two can make your entire life seem brighter. Yet it’s important to remember that not everyone shares your love for your furry friends. This is especially true when it comes time to sell your home. So in this post, we’ll look at ways to minimize, or even remove, evidence of your pet for long enough to close the deal.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The most obvious proof that a pet exists is the presence of the animal itself. So we recommend keeping your animals out of sight as much as possible when showing your home. Here are some ways to do so:
- Send your pup on a walk around the block with a friend or family member. Make sure the walker stays away long enough for the potential buyer to tour the property. If possible, the dog walker should call you to confirm the showing is over before returning. This option is more feasible if your home in on the small side.
- Ask someone you know and trust to watch over your pet when buyers are touring your home. You may wish to take your animal for a visit at a friend’s house prior to listing your home, so the pet is familiar with the changed surroundings.
- Arrange for your pet to stay in a kennel on days when you’re showing the house. We recommend using this option only as a last resort, since frequent kennel stays can traumatize your pet, according to writers for BarkPost. One way to minimize this effect is to board your dog or cat at a so-called “luxury kennel.” These places are the five-star hotels of the animal world, with spacious areas, lots of comfy furnishings, and extra attention from the staff. Just remember that premium services usually come at a premium price.
You should also remove pictures of your pet for the time being, both from the physical home as well as any online images.
“What’s That Smell?”
You may think your home smells just fine; and you may be right. Then again, you may be suffering from “nose blindness,” a common malady among pet owners. All of us grow accustomed to odors over time, to the point where we sometimes miss them when we’re away. But potential homebuyers are entering your residence with their sense of smell unaltered by years with your furry friends. This can ruin an otherwise ironclad deal, if they find their olfactory senses under assault. Here are some ways to avoid this problem:
- Ask plainspoken friends or relatives to drop by, give your residence a good whiff, and render their honest opinion about the way your home smells. If, in their judgment, the fragrance is less than flowery, then you should take steps to correct the issue, at least during showings. These may entail shampooing your carpets or hiring professionals to clean your house.
- Banish your litter boxes, dog beds, and similar products from your home when prospective buyers are making their rounds. Hiding these items in the trunk of your car may be your best option during these times.
- Avoid trying to mask odors with heavy scents, as this can send up a red flag to savvy prospects.
Remember the Fundamentals
Sometimes home sellers can focus so much on removing evidence of their pets that they forget the basics everyone with a home on the market should use. Here are some tips on how to stage your home:
- Open your curtains, add lamps or lighting fixtures, and do everything possible to make your house seem bright and cheery.
- Declutter. People want to picture your home with their stuff in it, which is difficult if it’s filled with your belongings. So pare down your possessions to make room for their imaginations to take over.
- Remember that first impressions are everything. So touch up your trim, plant flowers, keep the lawn mowed, and do everything possible to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Pet ownership should never prevent any responsible party from selling a home. Use the ideas in this post to sail past the pitfalls, and you may soon find yourself putting a “Sold” sign in your front yard. That’s something which should warm the hearts of all your family members, including those of the four-legged variety.
If your house needs a little something…check this out skoutshonor.com
Article provided by Medina at DogEtiquette.info
Image by Pixabay
