Pets and Home Sales: How One Impacts the Other
Selling a home can often be a time-consuming process, full of various moving parts that need to come together seamlessly. And adding a pet to the mix can be a challenging proposition, often hindering a sale.
People who don’t like pets might be afraid of the animal or bothered by it. And fellow animal lovers might spend so much time playing with, or talking about, your cat and dog, that they may not focus on your home. Plus, there’s always the prospect of liability if your dog was to bite someone while they were looking at your home.
When you have appointments scheduled for prospective buyers to come take a peek at your home, consider having the 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 potential buyers are coming. 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. And with so many people coming in and out of the house, you don’t want to worry about a dog getting out.
You also should assess any damage your pet may have inflicted within the home. Hair, spills around a water bowl, and minor damage are all part of living with a pet, so be sure to clean thoroughly and vacuum up any hair. It’s also a good idea to put food and water bowls away and thoroughly clean any areas where a mess has been made. For cat owners, keeping litter boxes clean is crucial so that unpleasant odors don’t make their way through the home.
Also, take steps to remove all stains and odors that may be lingering within your home due to having a pet. If the weather is appropriate, open your windows to let fresh air in. You may also want to use air fresheners and other products designed to 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 even notice smells caused by the animal.
And while you’re at it, don’t neglect to look for any areas outside the home where the family pet may have wreaked havoc. Fill any holes your dog might have dug up, get rid of any plants or decorations your dog might have chewed and clean up any messes your pet may have left behind.
By following these few simple guidelines, you and your pets could be celebrating a successful house sale in no time at all.
For more tips about selling a home with a pet, contact our office today.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
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