Preparing and Staging your home for sale, when pets are around can be very challenging. If you have a fish, in a bowl maybe not so much but a dog (especially a large one) a cat, or a few of each, and you will soon see my point. We will talk briefly about 1) dogs, 2) cats, and 3) all other pets afterwards.
We've just listed a house that was in good condition overall, but the owners have 2 large dogs. The challenge here was not too much the hair shedding (because the owners did a great job at keeping that under control) but the pet "smell" that is inevitable when pets are around.
Let’s start with Dogs; man’s best friend. “Love me, love my pets,” doesn't apply when selling your home. Take your dog with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them outside (or as in our case, put them in the garage). If you have a large dog, you might even consider having him stay with family, relatives, friends, or even at the vet while the house is on the market. Trust me, the $300 you might have to spend will be well worth it, when considering you’ll have a spotless house. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to come home every time there is a showing to let the dog out (especially if it’s during the day when you’re working), will quickly stress you out! Lastly, make sure all dog droppings are removed from the yard.
Cats are slightly easier. Make sure the floors are swept and their litter kept clean! Pet odors are a huge turn off to potential buyers. Ensure that their dishes, sleeping areas, and litter boxes are clean. Any noticeable cat hair should be vacuumed.
And Lastly, I will refer to all other house-hold pets in one large category. Birds, lizards, snakes, hamsters, frogs, monkeys, and – fill in the blank—should all be treated the same. With the exception of hamsters, (and fish) all other pets should ideally be moved from the house before listing, until the sold sign goes up. The last thing you’d want is a potential buyer walking through your home and hearing your rainbow-coloured parrot repeating “Will sell for less, will sell for less…”
Posted By,
Flav Onsen