Selling With Pets: There's Work To Do

When selling a house with pets, recognize that some buyers have a negative response to the presence of animals. Since there’s a limited pool of buyers today, every opportunity to impress one is important. Prepare your house to appeal to everyone by addressing some practical pet issues:
 
Odors
If your house has a pet odor, many buyers will refuse to enter. The concerns are not only health and aesthetics, odors are a sign of damage that may or may not be repairable. Since you may be accustomed to the normal odors in your house, get an opinion from a disinterested party, identify the source of the odor and treat or remove it.

Damage
Pet damage comes in many forms, not just ruined carpet or wood floors. Animals often leave scratch marks on doors and window sills, and sometimes the damage is difficult to repair. If you don’t know the extent of the problem, ask a professional if replacement is needed, or if cleaning or repairs will work. Carpet damage often reaches the pad and subfloor, so even if the carpet can be cleaned, it may be necessary to replace the pad. Subfloors can sometimes be treated with an enzyme, then a sealer applied to block any residual odor before the carpet and pad are replaced.

Fleas, Pet Hair and Dander
Some buyers worry that fleas are lurking in carpets, window treatments, upholstered furniture and bedding. Others are allergic to pet dander. Routinely bathe your pets and treat them for fleas and ticks. Clean the carpets and vacuum daily. Remove pet hair from furniture and bedding.

Pet Paraphernalia
Hide all traces of animal presence, such as cages, litter boxes, food and water bowls, beds and cat trees. Buyers find them offensive.

Showing Instructions
Discuss your pet situation with your REALTOR® and develop a showing strategy. It’s always preferable to remove your pets for showings, and although it may be inconvenient, doing so will help you sell. Plan some pet care options.

Marketing Pet Friendly Features
Have you created a pet-friendly home? If so, your REALTOR® may be able to use special features such as an invisible fence, as a marketing tool.

Smart Selling Tip:

When you have pets, be alert to issues that can get in the way of a successful sale. Remove your pet when there’s a showing and hide all traces of its presence so your house appeals to all buyers.