Smart moves for preparing a home with pets to sell

I am a dog and cat owner and my animals are an important part of my life as I’m sure they are yours. When you make the important decision to sell your home, consider your pets.

The best thing is to remove them during the marketing period. Why?

• Animals thrive on routine, and the activities with selling a home are going to be disruptive to that routine, making them nervous and possibly act out.
• More showings - people can be afraid of animals, have allergies.
• Better showings - pets can distract the buyers from experiencing the house.

So board them at a kennel, keep them at a friend or neighbor’s, at the minimum “doggy daycare.” I do not recommend caging your pet, putting them in the yard, or in a room such as a garage, basement, or laundry. Every part of your home is for sale and must be seen easily. Your pet may bark, make a mess, or even worse, bite. In my 25 years I have heard hundreds of horror stories of buyers, their children, and agents bitten by dogs, cats, lizards, etc. and the ensuing lawsuits. Remember the goal is to SELL your house!

Stage your house for maximum showing and profit:

• CLEAN the carpets, the tile, even your furniture to remove pet stains and odors. Professionals use special enzyme cleaners for pat odors such as cat urine (the worst).
• REPAIR the damages caused by your pet - scratches on the floor, the doors, the rugs, the carpets. Don’t forget the outside - fill the holes, replace the discolored lawn areas, remove the “poop”.
• HIDE the evidence of pets - put away the toys, the dog bed, food dishes, put the cat litter box in an inconspicuous spot, using the best odor removing materials available.

Buyers often offer thousands less because of the costs, real or imagined, for stain and odor removal, damages, etc. caused by pets; a small investment of time and money will reap rewards of a quicker sale and a higher price.