Let me begin by saying that I am a HUGE pet lover (my husband and I foster kittens for a rescue in our spare time), but not all people share my enthusiasm for animals so when selling a home, it is always advisable to try to keep pets, and their belongings, as ‘invisible’ as possible.
When it comes to home buying, even the most avid of animal lovers is often turned off by homes which show visible evidence, or worse still, smells of pets. People are often very sensitive to house odors and pet smells seem to be the most offensive of all. Even in scrupulously clean homes, animal smells can go unnoticed by their owners, who become desensitized to their own pets. On first entering a ‘pet friendly’ home, the scent of animals can often seem overwhelming and is a sure way to downgrade its appeal.
Strange as it may seem to some of us, there are also people who just don’t feel comfortable around pets. A past buyer experience really highlighted this for me. Buyers who were discussing writing an offer on a home opened the laundry at the end of the tour and when the wife saw the two (absolutely adorable) kittens, she retreated immediately to the car. Her husband was unable to get her to come back inside and even though they both loved the home, they decided against writing an offer. This of course was a very extreme reaction, but it hurt these sellers as it took them a while to find another buyer who loved the home as much as the first couple.
While it is seldom easy or practical, if there is any option to relocate your furry friends to a family member, or board them at some wonderful pet spa, this would ensure your most successful home showings. Listing when you are planning to be away on vacation, and taking Fido and Fluffy along for the ride might also be worth considering.
Failing that, here is a short list of musts:-
- Keep cat litter boxes (and puppy pads) out of sight and meticulously clean. Air the room in which they are kept before each showing and put the cat box outside or in the garage if possible.
- Hire professionals to remove any pet stains and odors from your carpets and if they can’t be cleaned, replace them.
- Do not try to mask odors with strong air fresheners. Some people are sensitive or allergic. Worse still, buyers wonder what you are hiding and the idea of mold often springs to mind; the death knell to any sale.
- Pick up doggy ‘litter’ in the garden. The last thing you want is folks stepping in something unpleasant.
- Pack up all visible signs of pets – toys, bowls, cat trees, beds, crates, etc.
- Run a quick cloth over those nose smudges on the windows and patio doors.
- If at all possible, take your pets for a walk, ride in the car, or to visit a neighbor during the showing. If you are at work, consider hiring a neighborhood teen or pet service to do this for you.
- The last resort is putting them in a crate or a specific room during showings, but this often distracts the buyers and worse still, distresses the pets.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression so make sure that it is a good one.
