Even though a majority of home buyers and sellers are pet owners, a sign of a pet living in the home is not a selling point. Sixty percent of sellers have pets, with almost 50 percent owning dogs, 33 percent owning cats, and 12 percent owning other pets. Buyers want to visualize themselves and their own pets living in the home, not you and yours. So what’s the best way to sell your house when you have a pet?
Part of preparing any home for sale includes removing your personal items, like family photos and mementos. When you have a pet, this also includes their beds and toys. This helps potential buyers picture themselves living in the house and calling it their home. It’s the same reason that the sellers themselves shouldn’t be present for a showing or open house, and this goes the same for your pets. When it’s time for a showing or open house, it’s time for you and your pets to leave.
If an agent surprises you with an unexpected showing and you aren’t able to get home in time to take your pet, you could be prepared with a visible note and pet treats for the agent to easily place your pet in a cage.
Pet owner to-do list:
Remove all signs of pets
Repair pet damage to home
Deep clean the home before listing
Deodorize
Clean pet hair
Mask noisy neighbor pets
Need more tips on how to prepare your home for sale? The Sibbach Team offers complimentary staging for all of our listings to help you prepare your home to sell for Top Dollar! Call us at 480-500-1738 to learn more!
