How to Prepare Your Home for Sale if You Have Pets

Posted by on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019 at 1:23pm.

How to Prepare Your Home For Selling When You Have PetsPets can cause all types of issues when it comes time to sell your house. Even if you used to own pets and don't anymore, they can linger inside your home.

Buyers touring your home will notice the smells, stains, hair and anything else your pet has left behind. This is especially true if they are allergic or don't own pets themselves. Here are a few tips to prepare your home for sale if you own pets.

Use Pet Sitters or Get a Second Home

When you're showing your house, the pets you own shouldn't be there. They could bring up negative issues for some potential buyers and may cost you the sale. Instead, find a second home or use pet sitters to keep your pets elsewhere during the process. Alternatively, take them for a long walk, a trip to the dog park or to a kennel for the day. This will ensure they are not causing any allergies in a potential buyer or disrupting your appointments.

Make Small Repairs

Your pets may have left their signature throughout your home and it may be necessary to remove certain items and make small repairs before showing your home. Replacing stained carpet, torn blinds, ripped curtains, marks on doors, spots on walls and any other sign of your pets is necessary. These repairs won't cost much, but they could make or break your deal.

Deodorize Your Home Before Showing

Deodorizing your home is necessary. Some buyers will notice any sign of your pets and they won't buy a house that shows signs or smells of pets. You may not notice any longer because you're used to the smell of your pets. However, a little baking soda and a good vacuuming can go a long way when it comes to pet odour. Just don't go overboard, or you could make things worse.

Don't try to use ammonia to get the smell out; it will just make it worse. Use an enzyme-based product to start taking care of the odour right away. It will also kill the bacteria in the urine, which will keep everything clean and safe in your flooring.

After you go through and do your own cleaning, it's a good idea to hire a cleaning service. Let them know you have pets and you are trying to sell your home. They will use the right products to ensure the pet odour is no longer found in your home.

Hide All Pet Toys

Whenever you have a showing, it's best to hide the food dishes, crates, cages, litter boxes and other things that have to do with your pets. It can be hard to hide all of this, but it's for the best. Take ten extra minutes out of your time before the showing to make sure the final toys and other items are hidden away.

The Outside of the Home Matters, Too

If you have evidence of your animals outside, you want to make sure it's cleaned up. Potential buyers may want to see the yard and they don't want to step in droppings or have to avoid them. Make sure the outside of your home is clean, too. Sometimes it's okay to leave a dog house outside, but other things, such as pits dug by your dog, dead grass and animal feces are not going to help you sell your home. Replacing the grass, picking up the droppings and making sure your yard looks presentable will go a long way in selling it quickly.

Showing Your Home When You Have Pets

Pets hold a special place in the heart of their owners and also a special spot within their home. However, when it comes time to sell the home, a family with pets may have to make adjustments in order to stage their house for the market. Some home buyers may see pets as a detraction from the property, and this could have an impact on the sale price.

Whether a homeowner has sold many homes in the past, or this is the first time a home seller has sold their own home, there are some guidelines to follow when selling a home with pets.

Cats or Dogs: Staging the Home

Dogs and cats are some of the most common house pets, which means that many home buyers have come to expect the presence of these types of animals in the home. Prior to listing the home, dog and cat owners should deep clean the carpets and furniture in order to remove all pet hair. All dog waste should be picked up in the yard before any showings.

Cat litter boxes should be placed in an inconspicuous location as well as cleaned regularly. If at all possible, dogs and cats should be removed from the home during showing appointments.

Birds: Preparing the House for Sale

Homeowners who have birds in the house have the advantage of knowing that their pet is in a safe and contained area. However, pet bird odors and noises can still be bothersome to potential buyers who are looking at the home. In some cases, a bird may need to be placed in a smaller room such as an empty bedroom or laundry room area to minimize disruption. Bird cages should also be kept clean, with the area surrounding the cage cleaned as well.

Tank Animals: Getting the House Ready for Market

Tank animals, including rodents, fish and reptiles, are often the least disruptive to the home selling process. Their tanks should be cleaned prior to any showings, and the tank should be placed in an unobtrusive location. The showing instructions on the listing should indicate that there is a pet in the house, and should include any special notices.

Consult a Real Estate Expert for Advice on How to Sell Your Home With Pets

Crestwood real estate agents can provide homeowners that have pets additional information on how to best prepare their individual property for the market. Pets are an important part of most of our lives. Selling a home is a big step, not only for the homeowner, but for the pets that live there as well.

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