Your pets, whether dogs, cats, birds, fish or more – is part of your Family. Your potential home buyer will consider them as part of their decision concerning your home.
When selling you home there are so many items that take energy, effort and time in preparing your home for the market. There are so many small details that can make a difference to your potential buyers about one home compared to another. One of the items to consider is your pets. Showings of your home can be stressful for your pets and on the other side certain buyers can have a negative view of a home when they see signs that a pet lives in the home. Your Realtor will need to disclose there is a pet or pets in the house as some people are allergic to certain pets or afraid of them.
Some Tips to help address buyers’ concerns about a pet or pets in the home:
Consider your Pets and their comfort.
Do not assume pets will be on their best behavior. Barking, making noise or sensing or seeing strangers in the house may make both your pet and your potential buyer uncomfortable. Develop a plan now on where your pet can be during a showing. A family member or friend might be able to care for them at their homes during a showing. Perhaps a showing might be a great time for your pet to go to the groomer. As a last alternative consider crating you pet with water and a favorite toy, placing the crate in an area which would have low traffic from your potential buyers. It is important for your pet not to be stressed by strangers in the home as well as you want your potential buyers to be focused on the great features and benefits your house offers.
Consider your Consider a Deep Cleaning before the house comes to the market and even offer to have a deep cleaning once you leave the house for the final time before you close on the home. and their comfort.
Some people are allergic to fur, pet dander, etc. You do not want a buyer who has an allergic reaction to some types of pets to be focused on dealing with their allergies. You want your buyer to walk into your home and fall in love with all your home offers. Investing in an initial deep cleaning from top to bottom to include having floor, upholstery, interior walls, countertop, those pesky corners and more can make a huge difference to pet allergic buyers; also, buyers in general love viewing a home that is fresh and clean.
Repair Pet Damage
If a buyer can see damage in one area, they will wonder what else they might discover now and in the future. Appearances make a huge difference. Is the carpet stained or clawed up, are the couches or other furniture or is the wood chewed, walls stained, etc.? Even if the item(s)s are not included in the sale of the house, they should be fixed or covered up before a potential buyer visits. You want your potential buyer to be thinking about moving in and enjoying the home rather than all the “projects” they would need to take on if they were to purchase.
Check your Yard
Do your pets go out into the yard to play and do their business? Before a showing do a thorough pickup in the yard, as your buyers are most likely going to walking around the yard. If you notice plants that have died or in need of a trim, bare patches of grass as examples consider addressing to make the yard appear well tended and welcoming.
Before showings, take a minute and do a Walkthrough
Check for signs of your pets that are easy to overlook. Such as food and water dishes and pet toys. Move items like carriers, cages, cat trees to an out of the way area. May be a closet or garage.
Selling your house is stressful for you and your pets. With these tips and others ideas you receive from others, the focus is to minimize the stress to your pets, you and to maximize the positives of your home for your buyer.
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