Five Tips Pet Owners Need to Know Before Marketing Their Home

Pets are man’s best friend, but when it comes to selling a house, these best friends may not mesh well with potential buyers. Some people could have allergies, while others might just be afraid of animals. Best-case scenario? Even if potential buyers love pets, your house might still smell like them. Once your house is on the market, it’s important to stage your home and make it look impeccable. Here are some tips on how to sell your home as a pet-owner.

 

1. Give your pet a vacation

It’s not ideal having to part ways from your pet, but putting your pet in a safe place to stay while you clean and stage your house for potential buyers is the best option. Look at it this way: when you’re looking at a new home, you likely want to envision your own life there and all the things you’ll do in it. It’s a lot harder to imagine a future when there are pets getting underfoot. You should either find a trusted friend or family member to watch your pets for a temporary period of time, or put your pet in a kennel.

2. Do a day trip

If you can’t bear to be apart from your pet for too long (and we can’t say we blame you), then consider just putting your pet out of the house for the day. Utilize the aforementioned options, like putting your pet in a kennel or ask a trusted loved one to watch your pet. According to Vet Street, you should make sure that the person you ask for an informal pet sitting is reliable and won’t flake. You can’t afford to have these lovable creatures neglected while you’re participating in a high-stress activity like trying to sell your house.

3. Clean that house

Consider getting your house professionally cleaned. You can hire a professional for different aspects, such as steaming the carpets or treating for pests. A professional will clean areas you might not have even thought of and will have the right kind of chemicals that can clean particularly stubborn spots. If you don’t want to go professional and save money, enlist the help of family and friends and go all-out on DIY. Research which chemicals and cleansers are best for your house and environment and take a couple of days to clean as thoroughly as possible. Make sure your pets are somewhere safe while you do this.

4. Have someone go through it before listing it

After you’re finished cleaning, find someone who hasn’t been in your house in the last 48 hours to go through it and examine it. U.S. News recommends having a neutral person utilize all their senses and make sure the house is presentable. They’ll notice things you might have forgotten about and can repair before officially listing.

5. Stage your house for buyers

Even though you are used to your house, you should try to improve upon it and highlight its best assets. If your house has a tendency to be dark, open your curtains and add lamps to lighten the atmosphere. Throw out or give away clutter. If you have things lying around, find a place for them. Make your house look spacious. Add curb appeal by planting flowers and caring for the lawn. Retouch the trim on your house as well and update the look. By cleaning your house and giving your pets an extended holiday, you’ll be able to increase your chances of selling. It’s not ideal to have to put your pet out of the house while you work on improvements and marketing it, but it’s your best chance for selling. Your pets will be just fine as long as you give them plenty of attention and affection.

Article provided by Medina at DogEtiquette.info.