Selling a house when you have pets can be tricky. We all love our furry four legged friends, but often times the homebuyer who is buying your house does not. In order for you to get top dollar for your house, you may need to make a few changes while your house is on the market.
Why wouldn’t a homebuyer like your pet?
- First of all, it’s your pet not theirs: yes, you may have the cutest cat or dog alive, but that doesn’t mean they are in agreement with you
- Outsiders often see others pets as unpredictable, and often instill fear in people.
- YOUR pet bites, claws, jumps, meows or barks excessively.
- Allergies! Some people are allergic to animals and therefore want nothing to do with them.
- Those without pets may see them as something that destroys a home and causes damage.
- Or, they may just not be pet lovers.
So what should you do when you’re selling your home and you have a pet?
#1) Send your furry friend to the a day camp while your home is for sale. This will ensure that if a last minute showing comes up that your dog is already out of the home. Places such as Camp Bow Wow, and Petite Urban Pooch are great camps. Petite Urban Pooch is a new daycare just for small pooches in Halifax, NS. With an option like this you know that your dog is not going to be caged all day, and they will get to make new friends!
#2) Often times pets require lots of their own toys and have bowls and litter boxes. Always make sure that you have these things tucked away, especially during a show. The last thing a potential homebuyer needs to see is your pets belongings scattered all over the place. Tuck their beds away, keep their bowls in a place where it is out of the way, and ALWAYS make sure that the litter box is impeccably clean (nothing is worse than someone getting a whiff of a dirty litter box). If your cat has scratchers or a cat tree or perch, consider storing them away until the house is sold. You should also ensure that none of your pictures posted online of the house have pets in it, you should remove all pictures of your pet from the fridge/walls, and pack up any other tell-tail signs.
#3) If you have carpets, hire a professional to come in and clean them for you. Pets often cause many imperfections in your carpets, and homebuyers will be the first to spot them. If you cannot remove a stain, do your best to cover it up.
#4) Make sure that there are no odors associated with your pet. Cat urine is the WORST. You may not be able to smell it, so it is a good idea to bring in someone who is not at your house often to do a sniff test. Be sure not to use strong deodorizers, as many people are sensitive to smells, but ensure that you naturalize odors that are present.
If you cant get your pet out of the house during a showing, ensure that you have them in a carrier with a note telling viewers not to disturb them. The last thing you need is your pet interfering your potential homebuyers first impression of your house.
