Tips for selling a Home with petsYou love your pets of course, and you’ve shared your home with them for a long time. You feel like your house is their house too, and justifiably so. You can’t imagine your home without them.

But the fact is, when you’re trying to sell your home, showing the house with pets around, or even any signs of them, is simply not a good idea. Too many people are just turned off at the presence of a pet, for a variety of reasons, some good, some bad. Maybe they’re worried about possible damage to the home. Maybe they have allergies. Maybe they had a bad experience when they were a child. Maybe they just don’t like animals.

I know first hand what it takes. I have a very hairy, 100lb, Alaskan Malamute. She is a fantastic dog but she makes a mess of things! Below are the main things I would do when getting my home ready for sale that you should to.

Tips For Selling A Home With Pets

  • Get rid of them. No, not permanently, but see if they can stay with a friend, neighbour, or relative for the duration of the home selling process. Or consider boarding them at a kennel. At the very least, take them out for a walk/drive when you have a showing scheduled.
  • Scrub down the entire house. This is a must without pets but, maybe, scrub their “frequent hangouts” a little harder.
  • Clean up the property. Nothing worse than a buyer stepping in a land mine while checking out the backyard.
  • Pick up all the water and food bowls and put the food out of sight.
  • Vacuum your home every day during the selling period. This will keep hair under control and help with odors too.
  • Pick up the pet toys, and if you have a cat with a climbing tree, stick it in the closet.
  • Remove litter boxes/dog pads, and do your best to get rid of the associated odors, which you may be used to but others will still smell.
  • If you have tell-tale carpet stains, do your best to remove them. If it’s too far gone put in some new flooring.

In short, eliminate any signs that a pet was ever there and you’ll greatly increase your chances of making a fast and profitable sale. And your pet will love their stay in that luxury pet resort.

Have you ever sold a home with pets around? Share your tips by leaving a comment.

Posted by Greg Dewar on
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