5 Tips for Selling Your Home with Pets

Anyone who has a pet knows they provide you with companionship, emotional support, and unconditional love – they’re a part of the fam! And while the majority of home buyers and sellers are pet owners and lovers, a sign of a pet ownership is NOT a selling point.

So if you’re getting ready to sell your home, follow these five tips to make sure your home is prepped, and your pets are happy:

1. Talk to your vet.

It’s not unusual for your furry friends to feel the effects of selling your home. Things like an interrupted routine or being toted around during showings can cause anxiety and confusion for them. The best thing to do is talk to your vet and come up with a gameplan to keep your pet happy and stress-free. You might know your pet’s needs through and through, but your vet can offer additional suggestions to help your pet adjust.

      2. Erase all signs.

Selling a home with pets can propose a bit of a challenge. Sure, you may not mind a little dog hair on the couch, but your future buyers may not agree. 

Though you may be required by state law to disclose that pets have lived in your home, you’re not obliged to advertise it. The goal is for prospective buyers to be as unaware as possible by erasing all signs. Toys, beds, litter boxes and food should all be put away — preferably in another location, like your car. Be sure to pick up all pet waste and vacuum religiously. And lastly, go ahead and take down the pic of your four-legged bestie hanging on the fridge (just temporarily!).

      3. Take ‘em with you.

Keeping your pet in the backyard puts your pet at risk of getting out; keeping them in the house creates complications for the showing agent. Any way you slice it, pets can be distracting for home buyers.

The best thing to do is to remove your pets for all showings and open houses. I know it might seem like a bit of a hassle, but remember, we live in a lawsuit happy society, so leaving your pet at home during showings is asking for trouble. 

Here are some ideas: 

• Let a friend or relative care for your pet during showings.
• Board them at a kennel.
• Treat them to a pet spa.
• Bring them to work with you for the day.
• Take them for a walk or a hike while the house is being shown. 

      4. Love on your pet.

Nothing changes a pet’s routine more than listing your home. Their daily schedule will be completely turned upside down, there will be new people in and out, new smells, and furniture being moved around — all of which can be anxiety-inducing. Show your furry friend some extra love! They’re probably just as stressed as you are and in need of some serious attention and affection. 

      5. Eliminate pet smells.

Alrighty folks, this is a biggie. Nothing is less appealing to home buyers than weird smells, so be sure to eliminate odors. And I’m not just talkin’ pet urine, because that’s a non-negotiable – I’m talkin’ all smells. Home buyers can be put off by candle scents and potent perfumed products, so resist the urge to simply mask pet smells and actually clean your home until it’s odor-free.

Pro tip!
Wash everything (and I mean everything) you can with pet-specific deodorizer and enzyme cleaners that neutralize odors. This includes couch cushions, curtains, rugs and upholstery.

BONUS TIP!
Don’t forget the neighbor’s pets.

A dog growling at the fence can be a turnoff for potential buyers. Some home inspectors will even note a nuisance pet in the neighborhood. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, ask if they’ll keep their pets indoors during showings. Or, offer to pay for a dog walker to come during the open house or home inspection periods. If all else fails, consider using white noise like an outdoor fountain to mask a barking dog.

You love your pets, so of course, it’s hard to imagine anyone disliking them. But at the end of the day, you want to ensure nothing gets in the way of selling your home as quickly as possible for maximum value.