Don't Let Your Pet Derail Your Home Sale

By Keith Loria

You love your pet so much that he or she is like part of the family, right? But if you’re trying to sell your home, it might be best to keep your furry friend out of the way so that they don’t work against you and put a damper on the home-selling process. 

When it comes to selling a home where there’s a pet involved, it’s important to keep in mind that people who don’t like pets might be afraid of the animal, or even bothered by it. And fellow animal lovers might spend so much time playing with—or talking about—your cat or dog, that they may not focus on your home. Plus, there’s always the prospect of liability if your dog was to bite someone who is looking at the house. 

When you have appointments scheduled for people to look at your home, consider having your dog stay with a friend or family member. If there’s just one appointment scheduled for a certain time, take your dog for a walk while the prospective buyers are looking. Another idea is to schedule a pet daycare or grooming appointment when people are coming to look at the house.

It’s especially important to keep pets out of the house during open houses. The more people in the home, the more likely the animal is to be distracting. Most important, with so many people coming in and out of the house, you don’t want to worry about a pet getting out while you’re trying to showcase your home.

You should also assess any damage your pet has caused both inside and outside the home. Hair, spills around a water bowl, and minor damage are all part of living with a pet. Clean thoroughly, and vacuum up hair. Put the pet’s bowls away and thoroughly clean and dry the area. And it’s imperative that cat owners keep litter boxes thoroughly cleaned so that unpleasant odors don’t make their way through the home.

If the weather is appropriate, open your windows to let in fresh air. Use air fresheners and products that remove pet odors from carpets and furniture. After doing all of this, invite friends and relatives over and ask them to honestly say if there are any odors in the home—sometimes it can be difficult for a pet owner to notice smells caused by the animal.

And don’t forget the outside. Fill any holes your dog might have dug up. Get rid of any plants or decorations a dog might have chewed. And it goes without saying that any messes from a pet need to be cleaned up.

Don’t let your pet be the reason that your home doesn’t sell.

For more information about selling your home when a pet’s involved, contact our office today.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.