You are ready to sell your home. Everything clean and shiny, the clutter is put away and the staging is set just right. So what are you supposed to do with your pets?
No homeowner wants to get rid of their pets; they are a part of your family. Pets and home sales do not go well together. What can you do with your pets when the time comes to begin showing your home to potential buyers?
The Problem of Pets
For many homeowners with pets, it is unthinkable that someone may not love animals like they do. There are many people out there who are uncomfortable, allergic or even afraid around animals.
As much as you love your pet, there is no way to predict how it will react around strangers. The last thing you need is to have your animal companion bite or scratch a potential home buyer.
Hiding the Signs
Few pet owners are willing to board their pets elsewhere while their home is on the market. If you can afford, it this really is the best solution.
If a kennel or pet-sitter is not in the cards for you, do everything you can to hide the signs of your pets’ presence in your home. Do not leave food dishes out. Make sure that any litter boxes are immaculately clean and kept well out of sight. Put away the pet toys.
Pet odors are a fact of life, and many owners do not even smell them. Have your carpets professionally cleaned and use enzyme cleaners all over the home to keep these odors at a minimum.
Air fresheners can be problematic for people with allergies. Avoid them if possible unless they are of an “allergen reducer” variety. Clean your house every day, including a thorough vacuuming.
Hiding Your Pets
Hiding your pets is a trickier prospect. When marketing your home, do not post photos of your pets in any of the rooms in your home. Remove any photos of your pets. Keep cages and carriers covered and out of the way.
If you can, take your pets with you when you leave the house during a showing. If this is not possible, keep your pets in a carrier or covered kennel and issue warnings that they are there to avoid accidental contact. Even a cat can get aggressive with strangers. Never assume that because your pet is nice to you, they are nice to everyone.
Everyone wants top dollar for their home. In order to be certain that you present your house in its best light, you should hide any signs of pet ownership. When you are ready to sell your Okotoks real estate, give us a call. We are here to help.
