Advice For Selling With Pets
To-Do List
All signs of a pet should be removed
Make sure marketing materials are pet-free
Do not market the home as pet-friendly
Pet damage can be repaired at home
Before you list, deep clean your home
Deodorize
Clean pet hair
Stains can be removed
Noisy pets should be masked
Both Home Buyers And Sellers Are Pet Owners
Most home sellers and buyers are pet owners. However, it is not common for pet owners to be the selling point.
Sixty-five percent of sellers are pet owners, with 33% owning cats and 49% owning dogs. Buyers want to see themselves and their pets living in the home.
What can a pet-owner home seller do? These are some ways to present your home in the best light without your furry friends.
How To Handle A Pet At An Open House
Which Is The Best Option For Your Pet?
Each pet is unique, and each pet has a different routine. Listing your home can make a big difference in a pet's daily routine. Their daily routine will be disrupted by new people and smells, new furniture, and belongings being moved around, as well as the possibility of them spending more time away from their home. Talk to your veterinarian if your pet is anxious or stressed out when preparing to sell your house.
Open House Etiquette
Preparing your home for an open house requires you to get rid of personal items such as family photos and other keepsakes. This simple staging step allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the house and making it their own. Of course, the same applies to pets and belongings as the sellers.
Depersonalize your home before the open house by getting rid of toys and food bowls. It's time to get your pets and yourself on the road when it's open house time. Potential buyers will feel more at home if your pet is not present. It also makes it easier to host your open house. Agents can give tours and provide access to the house so that potential buyers have the opportunity to ask questions.
It Is Dangerous To Host An Open House For A Pet
Open houses with pets are a bad idea for many reasons. Even if your pet is well-behaved and socially adept, an open house can lead to unexpected aggression. Children can trigger aggressive reactions in pets when they shop with home buyers. Some homeowners insurance policies do not cover dog bites. You should take extra precautions if this is an issue.
It doesn't matter if you have aggression issues. Many people are allergic to pets. You want your home to be appealing to as many potential buyers as possible. You don't want to limit your buyer pool by making pets unfriendly or intolerant.
If The Pet Is Not Allowed To Come Before The Open House
There are some things you can do if your agent makes an unexpected home tour and you are unable to arrange alternate accommodations for your pet.
You can keep your pet in a kennel or cage, but you should leave a note in plain sight directing visitors not to disturb the pet.
You can leave your pet in a kennel or cage if you are unable to get home.
Do not try to hide your pet. Shoppers will want to see the whole house, including the closets, storage areas, and laundry rooms.
Tips For Selling A House With Pets
All Signs Of Pet Ownership Should Be Removed
A potential buyer won't tell that a pet is living in your home if you have done your staging correctly. Remember that buyers will be looking everywhere, so don't just put your pet's stuff in a closet. Instead, take everything pet-related and pack it up.
Kennels and crates
Toys
Drink water and eat from food bowls
Pet food
Pet beds
Condos for cats or dog houses
Cat climbers and scratching posts
Leashes
Photos of pets in the family
Before you list, consider replacing the cat or dog door.
Make Sure Marketing Materials Are Pet-Free
You should also remove any evidence of your pets from an open house or showing. You should avoid taking photos of pets that have damaged windows or chew marks. These photos will be used everywhere, including Zillow's MLS listing and flyers in the neighborhood.
Do Not Market Your Home As Pet-Friendly
If there are no permanent structures on your property that you can remove, such as a dog run, chicken coop, or chicken coop, do not advertise your home as pet-friendly. Pet-owners can tour your home and determine if it is pet-friendly.
While pet owners may be thrilled to have a yard with a fence or a dog park, it is important to remember that pet-free buyers might not be interested in your property due to the lack of pet-related amenities.
Pet Damage Repaired
Because you live near your house every day, it's easy for you to forget the damage your pet has caused to your home. Potential buyers will look at homes with an objective eye. Unfortunately, even small imperfections can lead to buyers thinking you aren't taking good care of it. These repairs should be made before you list your property.
Interior Repairs
Carpets that are stained or torn
Furniture that is scuffed, worn, or torn
Hardwood or another flooring with a ratchet pattern
Do not chew or claw on windows sills, doors, baseboards, or walls.
Curtains ripped
Exterior Repairs
Pet waste
There are signs of digging in the lawn
Trampled grass or bushes
Fencing that is damaged
Broken window screens
Before Listing, Deep Clean
It doesn't matter if you have pets or not. It is important to clean up your house before you list. If you have pets, it is even more crucial to clean your home before listing. Bad smells such as cat or dog odors are some of the things that can send potential buyers running. Call a professional carpet cleaning service to get rid of pet odors, hair, and stains.
How To Remove Pet Stains
Professional carpet service can do spot treatments.
Make your natural cleaning products, such as a homemade mixture of salt, white vinegar, Borax, and water.
You may need to replace your floor covering if the carpet is very dirty. You are not the only one who may need to replace your carpets or flooring. Twenty-six percent of all recent sellers reported that they had replaced their carpets and flooring prior to listing.
How To Get Rid Of Pet Hair
To remove pet hairs from your carpets, vacuum thoroughly.
Take out cushion covers and wash them. Vacuum furniture
To remove pet hairs from furniture, hire a furniture cleaning company. Then, keep your pets away
Regularly bathe your pet
Every day, take your pet outside to brush or comb.
Vacuum at minimum once per day and before any showings (robotic vacuums are a great help).
How To Eliminate Pet Odors From Your Home
Use furniture slipcovers, quilts, and comforters to wash everything.
Make sure to clean your pet's environment, including fish tanks, cages, and bedding.
Take out litter boxes and potty pads
Change the filter in your HVAC system
To absorb dust and pet hair, you can use a HEPA filter.
Steam clean curtains and furniture
Avoid scented candles and air fresheners that mask the odor.
Invite a friend to come along for a sniff test
How To Get Rid Of Pet Odors From Carpet
Spread dry baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then vacuum the carpet to get rid of the dog's urine smell.
You can hire a professional carpet cleaner, or you can rent a machine to do it yourself.
Pet-friendly cleaning products and urine removers
If the smell continues after cleaning, you should check to ensure the subfloor or carpet pad is not damaged.
Tips For Selling A House With Loud Neighbors
Sometimes, your pets are not the problem. However, an aggressive or yippy neighbor dog can cause problems at an open house, inspection, or showing. These are some examples of actions to consider:
Ask your neighbor to keep your pets indoors as much as possible.
You can offer to pay for dog daycare or a dog walker at your open house. Services like Wag and Rover make it easy to locate someone in your area.
To muffle outside noise, use plants such as bamboo and leafy trees.
Keep your windows shut during viewings.
To create white noise, install a water feature.
