Putting your home on the market when you have pets can be especially challenging because you want to secure a buyer quickly, yet your mind is reeling with a wide variety of concerns. Does my home smell? What should I do with the dog, cat, bird, snake, etc. during the open house? How can I keep my pet safe and comfortable throughout the selling process and retain my sanity? Is my home going to sell for less because I have a pet?
You have made the decision to cash in on your largest investment, and the Chicotsky Real Estate Group empathizes with your concerns and cares about your pet’s safety and comfort as much as you do, so the ideal thing to do at this point is to slow down, take deep breaths, and remember that the home selling process is going to be just as stressful on your pet. It is best to remain calm, in control, and stay positive. If they sense you are worried and tense, they will begin exhibiting the same behavior, and this is the last thing you need or want – for yourself or your pet!
First and foremost, it is of the utmost importance that your real estate agent creates a note in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) stating that there is a pet on the premises. This will prevent buyers’ agents from setting appointments for customers who have absolutely no interest in living in a home that was previously inhabited by dogs or cats and give fair warning to those who may have an allergic reaction while touring your home.
Humans and animals alike do not enjoy having strangers traipsing through their territory, so decide right away if an open house is even a possibility. If you have a dog or a cat and decide to hold an open house, the worst thing to do is leave them roaming freely throughout the home for a variety of reasons. One option is to put your dog in a crate or the cat in a carrier, but this can be problematic. In addition to your fur kid becoming vocal while contained, the real estate agent or potential buyer may try to comfort your dog or cat by attempting to pet them through the bars, which can result in the person getting bitten or scratched.
(Pro Tip: Review your home’s insurance policy prior to putting your home on the market.)
Regardless of whether you are preparing for an open house or an agent has scheduled a private tour with an interested party, the ideal thing to do is arrange to visit with a friend or relative who is fine with having your pet around for a few hours. You may even want to drop your dog or cat off early in the morning, so you can vacuum and freshen your home before your business guests arrive.
If you have a pet from the rodent family such as a rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, gerbil, or rat, change their litter as often as possible to keep the odor at a minimum. It is a good idea to place a natural odor absorber such as a box of baking soda near their habitat. While not part of the rodent species, kitties can be considered in this instance because it is just as important to keep their litter boxes as clean as possible, and do your best to place them in spots where they are not easily observed such as beside the commode or the clothes dryer.
If you have stables, barns, and similar outbuildings for horses and other types of farm animals, the Chicotsky Real Estate Group has extensive experience selling and purchasing land and ranch properties and cannot stress enough the importance of cleaning, organizing, and making repairs where needed. Horses of course need to have their stables remain clean and sanitized. The same rules apply to other types of farm animals, too, such as alpacas and goats. The last thing you want to do is lead a potential buyer to believe that vermin and roaches have infested the stable and outbuildings. Be sure to inspect and repair any stable doors, fences, and gates that are demonstrating weakness and add a squirt of WD-40 to squeaky hinges. Sand and repaint any metal fixtures that are rusting. Make sure all water hoses are properly coiled and not interfering with walking paths, equipment is in its proper place, and all lights are functioning as they should. If there are exposed wires anywhere, make sure they are not a safety hazard by calling on an electrician to inspect them. Be sure to keep his or her report handy to prove that you have addressed any potential electrical issues. Simply doing this will show potential buyers that you are a trustworthy seller and help avoid any delays in the inspection process.
(Pro Tip: If you are taking your horse(s) and/or farm animals with you, be sure to have your Realtor® state in the contract that they DO NOT convey.)
Are you one of the brave people who shares your home with a snake, lizard, tarantula, or scorpion? While you may find them to be fascinating and affectionate companions, not everyone has the same appreciation for them. The best thing to do is to turn off their daytime heat lamp and cover the terrarium with a towel or sheet. This will prevent guests from becoming surprised or even terrified when they enter the room where your exotic pet is kept.
Are you a bird lover? If so, you know all too well that pet birds are protective of their territory and can become frightened and aggressive around people they are not familiar with, which can result in a painful, and even damaging, bite. To keep your feathered friend at peace and ensure guests leave with all their fingers, cover the cage with a sheet secured with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign stating clearly: BIRD SPOOKS EASILY! WILL BITE! If you do not specify that a bird is inside the cage, curious people will not be able to refrain from peering under the sheet and surprising your bird, so it is best to avoid this by removing all doubt about what is being hidden from view.
(Pro Tip: Follow these same showing procedures for the inspections(s), appraisal, and final walkthrough.)
Even if you remove your pet from the home during showings and strive to keep your home and their areas as clean as possible, an odor may still be lingering. So, what is the best attack to wage against these unseen forces? Time to call in the experts!
If you have carpeting anywhere in your home, get it professionally steam cleaned to get it as fresh as possible. Also, it is never a bad idea to treat it first with one of several consumer products available that will remove stains and odors through enzymatic action, then arrange for the steam cleaning. Although, if the carpet and padding are excessively soiled and stained due to puppy power or an aging dog, or you have a dominant cat who likes to spray, it may be best to have it replaced with ceramic tile of neutral tones.
If even getting rid the carpet still has not freed your home of pet odors, change your HVAC air filters, then speak with your agent to see if he or she can refer you to companies that use pet safe and environmentally friendly products that are released into the home as a gas that permeates throughout the home eradicating odors within hours. Just keep in mind that this process requires you and your pets to leave the premises for a few hours, which may prove challenging if you have birds, reptiles, fish, or other pets that cannot be relocated easily for a short amount of time.
(Pro Tip: Bake cookies or fresh bread before showings. This will help conceal any mild pet odors and make your home feel warm and inviting.)
It is important to remember that interested parties, inspectors, and appraisers will want to walk around the outside of your home, so be sure to fill in any holes your dog may have created and clean up after them. If you have a male dog, hose off the patio, deck posts, and tree trunks to remove any lingering scents lingering from him dutifully marking his territory. If you have a fence, inspect its perimeter for any damage and pay close attention to where the panels meet the ground to locate and fill any holes your pooch may have dug in an attempt to meet the neighbor’s dog.
Just like carpeting, your lawn can have urine stains, too. If you see a few brown patches in your yard, an easy fix is to simply dig them up with a shovel saving as much dirt as possible, then cover the unsightly bare spot with a piece of sod. If your dog is rather rambunctious and enjoys zooming around the yard so much so that you do not have much grass to speak of, your best bet is to get the entire backyard replaced with fresh sod. Whether you have had to replace spots or your entire yard, remember to keep freshly laid sod well-watered.
Most people with pets have some sort of damage inside their home. From puppy power teething on wooden base boards to bent and crooked blinds on windows to scratch marks on doors and floors, such eyesores will lower the value of your home and can deter someone from purchasing it. Fear not though because most damage can easily be repaired with a little bit of elbow grease, minimal sanding and sealing, and some paint. Remember, you want to get the most out of your investment, so it is best to replace blinds, screens, and doors that have extensive damage, but if you have doubts about your ability to complete a repair properly, it is best to call in an expert.
(Pro Tip: If paying for professional repairs is not an option due to financial matters, you may have to lower the price of your home or offer compensation in the contract terms to encourage potential buyers.)
While some real estate experts recommend removing all photos of your beloved pet, the Chicotsky Real Estate Group thinks it is perfectly fine to have a couple of framed pictures of your pet in view. After all, the buyer will not know if the images are of a pet you used to have or if it is a close relative’s furry companion, so displaying photos does not hold much weight. Even if a potential buyer suspects that the photos are of a current dog or cat, there is a chance that they are a pet lover, too, and will immediately connect with the seller without ever meeting them. Should this be your luck, the buyer will be impressed by the cleanliness of the house, which will help them envision living in the home with their own pet.
One thing that you absolutely must do is hide any food and water bowls and toys that are usually out in the open. In addition to the fact that they may be emitting unpleasant odors, you want the floors to be free of any tripping hazards. Wash and dry pet bowls, then put them away in a cupboard. Pile toys into a basket, then stow it away in a closet. Keeping these items out of the sight and minds of potential buyers is the best practice.
If your home proves to be very popular among prospects and you cannot be home to remove your pet for every showing, you may want to consider relocating your dog or cat to a friend or relative’s home or consider leaving them at a doggie daycare or a boarding facility during the daytime hours. Your very last option should be rehoming your furry family member.
According to the statistics from information gathered in 2017, approximately 68 percent of all households in the United States owned pets, and this percentage has most likely grown throughout 2018. Considering this information, smile knowing that you and your fellow animal lovers are the majority and remind yourself that buyers who are not interested in purchasing new construction understand that the homes they are prospecting have probably been lived in by more than just humans. It is just a simple fact: American households love their pets!
The Chicotsky Real Estate Group knows that the key to getting the highest and best offer for your home depends upon your ability to make it look and smell as good as new, but you will also need to consider a few DOs and DON’Ts.
When it is time to have your home photographed for the listing, you may think it is a cute idea to include Max or Princess in the marketing experience. While some sellers have purposely staged their pets in the pictures by having them sit beside the fireplace or lounge on the pool deck, this creative tactic will not entice people to make an offer on your home. Pet photo staging distracts and detracts from your homes features and confuses prospects by causing them to think that Max and Princess are included in the home’s sale, so refrain from doing this. Keep things simple and respect the photographer’s time and craft by keeping your dog or cat from interfering with the process.
If you have pet doors installed in solid or sliding glass doors, make sure you have the section that slides in place to make it inoperable. While prospects with pets might like the pet door and consider it a bonus feature, some potential buyers will view it as a negative. Having this optional panel in place during showings will demonstrate to everyone that the pet door can be kept secured temporarily or permanently with minimal effort.
We at the Chicotsky Real Estate Group understand that every home is as unique as its inhabitants just as each customer is an individual with precise needs and wants. This reasoning alone is why Chicotsky’s agents strive to stay informed on the latest news and trends and are proud of their creative problem-solving abilities. So, no matter if you are selling your home or ready to purchase that special place to kick up your paws, we will strategically guide you through the process, smooth over the “ruff” spots, then celebrate with you and your family as you prepare to settle into a purr-fectly happy home. Call our Fort Worth real estate agent today 817-888-8088.
