If you are a pet lover, it is probably hard to accept that not everyone likes animals. This becomes very relevant if you are planning to sell your house. Research shows that it is more challenging to sell a pet-friendly home versus a pet free one. To overcome this challenge, here are a few things to consider when you are getting ready to show your home.
Some buyers will be uncomfortable -or even fearful of-walking into a home with animals. Realize that even the most lovable pet can become aggressive if it feels threatened, so it is best to remove your pets from the house when buyers visit. If the pet cannot be removed, be sure that it is secured in a cage or in a room that buyers do not have to visit. You should also remove all your pet’s stuff – toys, feeding bowls, litter box, bed etc.- when showing the house. Leaving the stuff around makes the house looked cluttered and you don’t want anyone tripping over it.
One of the biggest turnoffs for buyers is pet odor. The thing is, you may no longer smell the odor since you live with it continuously – but any new visitor to the house will. To eliminate pet odor, be sure to clean and deodorize your carpets, furniture and window treatments and try to leave your windows open as often as possible to allow fresh air to circulate. Simply using a strong air freshener will not be enough to get rid of pet odor and buyers will be suspicious of any overpowering fragrances in the house. If necessary, hire a professional cleaning company that specializes in pet odor removal.
Even if your pet is very mellow and is not bothered by visitors, having it in the house when showing is likely to be a distraction to buyers. Remember, you want them to focus on the wonderful attributes of the house … not your pet. Whether buyers are animal lovers or not, many will still be concerned about the impact that a pet may have had on the house. Taking steps to make your home pet-free when showing it will alleviate these concerns and allow buyers to truly appreciate the best features of the house.