How to Sell a Home with Pets
How to Sell a Home with Pets
Our pets are important to us and are members of the family, but when it comes time to sell your home, they can create a bit of a challenge. About 60% of sellers have pets, but when it comes to some buyers, they may want to visualize their own pets in the home or no pets at all. Pets can create messes or even unwanted smells that may turn some buyers off. Here are some tips for how to sell a home with pets.
Deep Clean
Before you have any showings or photographs taken of your house, make sure you do a deep clean of the entire home before and during the home selling timeline. You want to continue to keep your home clean as showings can happen at any time. Deep cleaning will also allow you to get to the root cause of any odors that may be present due to your pets.
If you have rugs or carpets, it is helpful to get them professionally cleaned or even replaced depending on the damage done by pets. When you shampoo carpets and rugs, it will draw out any odor. This process may need to be done to your furniture as well. Vacuuming everyday will also keep your home clean and free of dander. If you feel like there is a lingering odor after you have deep cleaned, try and mask the odor with either candles or air freshener. You can also put an air purifier in your home to reduce any smells caused by pets.
Repair Damage Caused by Pets
Pets are notorious for causing unwanted damage to your home which potential buyers are not going to overlook. Go through your home and look for any pet damage that needs to be repaired or items that need to be replaced. This includes scratched or torn furniture and flooring, stains on carpets, chew marks on windowsills, or ripped curtains.
It is also important to look outside of your house and clean up any pet waste and repair any signs of digging on your lawn. This will increase your curb appeal and show buyers that you take diligent care of the home.
Put Away Signs of a Pet
It is a good idea to de-pet your home while you are preparing to sell. This means that you should remove any cages, kennels, or toys from all rooms as well as put away food and water bowls when your home is going to be shown. Not everyone loves pets which means that the best thing to do is to erase the evidence of any pets who live in the home.
How Should You Handle a Home Showing
During showings, put your pets elsewhere so that they are not in the home. Take them with you or ask your neighbors if they can watch them during showings. If these are not viable options for you, you may need to professionally board your pets. It is very distracting to have your pets roaming around in your home or barking while potential buyers are viewing your home. If your pets absolutely must stay at home, talk to your real estate agent about the best possible solution to how to handle home showings with pets.
We love our pets but having them or their things in your home during a showing is not the best idea when trying to sell your home. Follow these tips and your home showings will be sure to be a success.
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