You have made the decision to sell your home. Now you have to go around the home to make it as perfect as possible before you start showing. You want potential buyers to see your home at its best and this will help justify the price you are asking. There are a few things to consider when planning for showings if there are pets in the home.
Having pets is a wonderful thing. There is a good possibility that at least some of the people interested in your home will have pets as well – and having a property that’s already pet friendly could actually be a big selling point for them. The issue is that the house is your pet’s home too, so you have to make sure that they stay safe during showings while also ensuring that they don’t negatively affect the sale.
It’s time for a thorough cleaning - before any showings, make sure that your pets are cleaned up after as much as possible; this includes freshly cleaned litter boxes with new litter, freshly cleaned carpets to take care of any pet stains, vacuuming to pick up the fur, air fresheners, etc. You want the lingering sights and smells of your pets to be minimized - this not only puts your best foot forward, but it will also impress potential buyers who may not be pet people.
Avoid Direct Interaction if Possible – try to keep your pets from being in the same area as potential buyers; not everyone is an animal lover. One recommendation is to take your pets for a ride while your home is being shown. If you have multiple showings in a certain time period, you might want to board pets for a couple of days with your vet, a professional boarder, a friend or a relative. If you must leave them in the home, it’s best to contain them… like in a pet crate or use a child gate in the laundry room.
Disclose Your Pet Ownership - something to keep in mind once you’re ready to start showing your home is that you must disclose the fact that there are animals living on the property (and in the house, if they’re inside pets.) This not only lets potential buyers know that there may be animals on the premises, but it also serves as a warning for those with severe pet allergies. Even though you should clean thoroughly (remember that first tip?), a potential buyer who has a very severe allergy will know that there might be a risk in your home. In addition, when you have that buyer with the extra sensitive nose, you’ll have warned them in advance of exactly what “that smell” is.
For additional tips on selling your home, contact an Award Realty agent.
