If you’re like me and have a fur baby, you love your pet and consider him/her to be part of the family. However, everyone does not feel that way. This is very true of potential buyers who don’t have pets. Seeing signs of a pet in the home can distract and deter buyers.
When it’s time for listing photos to be taken, remove the pet’s items so that they aren’t seen in pictures. Also, make sure there isn’t aren’t any tufts of hair on furniture. Pets and pet items should also be removed when an open house or showing has been scheduled. If it’s absolutely impossible to remove your pet during showings, contain them in a side room. Also, make sure to pick up any waste that is in the yard.
As pet owners, we become accustomed to the scent of our pet. That’s not the case for people viewing your home. The smell of a pet may hit their noses as soon as the door is opened. That is a major turn-off for buyers. It may be in your best interest to ask someone that doesn’t live in your home, when visiting, if he/she smells a pet odor. If the answer is “yes”, take steps to neutralize the odor. If you find a remedy that eliminates the odor, use it consistently while your home is on the market so it won’t return.
