Sellers are advised to create the illusion that everything is new and fresh in their homes. But with pets, it’s not always easy to keep things that way:
- They could scare away a potential buyer from stepping foot in the house
- Many are worried about dogs or freaked out by birds
- Allergies can also be a factor
- Owners may think of their pets as the gentlest creatures, but a dog that barks or jumps on people is not good
So what to do? Keeping a pet in the backyard, the garage or locked in a room is insufficient—and certainly not fair to the pet. The simplest solution is to relocate the pet. That can be to a friend or family member or a pet daycare facility.
There are a few things that you need to consider if pets must be in the home:
- Put them in a carrier and attach a note warning buyers not to disturb them
- Clean the litter box daily and keep it out of sight
- Put food and water dishes away after feeding
- Consider hiring professionals to remove pet stains
Finally, although a sleeping cat on the bed may make for a cute picture, someone seeing the shot on a website may automatically bypass the house because they imagine smells and claw marks on the rug.
Pet owners must understand that not everyone loves animals as much as they do. To some, pets are smelly, noisy and damaging to a property. Don’t let that be the reason you don’t sell your home.
