Most people love pets! However, if you are putting your home
on the market, most buyers do not want to see your pets.
Your pet could be an attractive distraction in that a buyer
pays more attention to your pet than your home. Or, even worse, your pet might
be smelly, aggressive, or off-putting to the buyer. Either way, your beautiful
home will not get the attention from the buyer that it deserves.
To sell your home quickly, for the most money, you want to
stage your home to create the illusion you are not a pet owner. Here are five
simple tips that will appeal to buyers:
1. Clean
Your Yard
The first thing a buyer sees is your yard and interested
buyers will want to walk around. Do a ‘poop patrol’ before every showing. Fill
in any holes and sprinkle grass seed on the top. You want your yard to be a green oasis that invites playing in
bare feet – not a brown dust bowl that looks like a dog park.
2. Remove
Pet Odors
This may take more time but will make a big difference. Clean
and tuck away the litter box and clean any noticeable stains on rugs or
hardwoods. If a smell still lingers (have a non-pet owner in for a sniff), hire
a professional to clean the carpets or rugs. If you won’t be using the rug in the
new house, get rid of it.
Don’t forget to clean turtle, hamster, and guinea pig cages
frequently, to prevent odors. And make fish tanks sparkle.
3. Get Rid
of the Hair
Not only does pet hair make your home look messy, it can
trigger allergies and send potential buyers sneezing and wheezing out the door.
Before each showing, vacuum and dust to remove any settled hair or dander.
4. Remove
the Evidence
Stow all pet paraphernalia – leashes, collars, pet beds, toys,
water bowls, food, cute sweaters, and pet costumes for Halloween – in a
cupboard or closet. Put dry food bins in a laundry or mud room. No matter how
adorable you may think it all is, to buyers, it's just clutter.
5. Pet Playdates
for Showings
It's best for everyone if you can find a playdate for your pet
before a showing, or to send him to Grandma's for an extended stay. But, if you
decide to leave your dogs or cats at home, either crate them or confine them to
a special area of the house, and make sure your real estate agent knows where
they are.
We followed these steps and our Goldendoodle,
Cody, loved the adventure. Our buyers did not know we had a dog until they met
him before the closing and fell in love with him on the spot.
For a checklist of subtle
home improvements that add up to a higher listing price or to meet Cody, please
contact me at Dave@SplaineTeam.com or 401-465-6996.
