Do Pets Make It Hard To Sell A Home?

Some of our clients are curious if their four-legged friends will make it tougher to sell their home. The answer isn’t super straight-forward, but we believe that many real estate articles overstate the issues and problems that pets may cause.

Typically, a well-behaved, house-trained pet will not affect your ability to sell. In fact, some dog lovers might enjoy seeing Fido playing in your beautiful fenced-in backyard while they tour your home.

We love our pets, and we know you do too! Here are just a few things to look out for when you’re getting ready to sell:

1. Funky odors. Whether or not we like to admit it, litter boxes can be stinky. Hiding the litter box in a bathroom or basement isn’t a bad idea, but remember that buyers will be walking through all parts of your home. The best bet is to thoroughly clean a litter box just moments before your home will be shown. While it might seem intuitive to spray Febreze in this room, it typically just masks the scent poorly and may make it worse.

2. Fido’s shedding can cause serious allergies. Be sure to thoroughly clean all carpets and regularly vacuum…especially during shedding season! Pet hair is not attractive to any buyer, and especially not to their allergies. Consider repainting any wood trim that might have been damaged, or touching up any flooring that might have been damaged.

3. If possible, take Rover for a walk during showings. This is especially true if your pup is known to bark or jump. Consider checking www.care.com for a dog walker in the area who you can call if you won’t be home.