Did you know that your dog may be the reason your house isn’t selling?
Or maybe it’s your cat. Or possibly your pet snake.
Sure we love our pets (I know I love mine). But sometimes that affection makes us oblivious to some of their less-endearing traits — such as the way they routinely kick kitty litter onto the floor or how they graw on your baseboards. And there’s always the issue of odors. And sometimes their very presence intimidates a potential homebuyer.
Here are a few ways to turn your for-sale home into pet-neutral territory:
.1 When possible, find a new home for Fido while the house is on the market
Realizing that many homes are taking longer to sell than in the past, boarding your pet may not be a viable solution. However, at the very least, you should take them with you or leave them at day care during showings. Never stick them in another room with a “Don’t Open Door” sign. Potential buyers are buying the whole house, and will want to see the whole house during their tour.
2. Clean! Clean! Clean!
The traditional advice about cleaning a house before showing it goes triple when it comes to pets. Is their a long mark along the walls just at pooch level? Are their “tumbleweeds” of kitty fur? You only get one chance to make a first impression, and it shouldn’t be that the animals run the roost!
3. Find a new home for feeding bowls, kitty litter, toys, etc.
Putting these in a chest or cabinet may not be convenient, but at least they won’t be a distraction (or worse, a tripping hazard).
4. Remember, your yard is included in the sale too!
And buyers will want to stroll around it. Of course, this means that there should be no “land mines” (or as my dad used to call them: “boomers”) for the unwary.
