Special offer

PETS CAN BE PESTS WHEN SHOWING!!

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams - BV 581856

I have read a few times about how important it is for sellers to either crate their pets or take them out when buyers will be looking at their home. 

 

WELL, as an animal lover, I have never felt this was a huge issue UNTIL TODAY! :)

My client and I were looking around a beautiful home when she suddenly heard a "jingle, jingle".  "A CAT!!!" she exclaimed. 

It seemed harmless enough to me...even friendly.  "I DON'T LIKE CATS AT ALL!!" she said.  I could tell she was actually fearful of this black and white feline.  "Did you have a bad experience when you were growing up??" I asked.  "No," she said.  "Everyone asks me that, but I cannot remember a bad experience.  I just for whatever reason cannot let myself get near a cat!"  So, I shooed the cat away from her.  She wanted to see the master bedroom and actually closed the door so the cat would not come in.  Of course when we were done looking at the master, guess who was waiting right outside the door??  You guessed it.  Buyer was pretty much done by that point...and then out walked "thing 2". Another cat--orange tabby.  We were SO out of there!

Well fellow-realtors and pet lovers, I have learned my lesson.  It is better to have the pets out of the house than to have  potential buyers miss out on seeing a lovely home due to the distraction the pet(s) may cause!! 

David L. Montgomery
MULAMONT REALTY, LLC - Pontiac, MI
David L. Montgomery

Phobias are one thing; I have witnessed buyers have allergic reactions.  At the very least seller's should have the house pet-free during showings.  After all don't we advise sellers to get all unnecessary clutter out of the way to better show the home?

Sep 04, 2010 04:55 PM
Chris Dugger
Real Estate Marketplace - Louisville KY - Louisville, KY
Louisville REALTOR

Sonja, I am getting a dose of my own medicine currently when it comes to pets. I have my own home on the market and it's shown every day this week. I have to take our 7 month old Lab with me during showings, but I leave the cat out. If I crated her, they would think I have a cat torturing device in the other room as she'd continue to howl non-stop!

This experience will make me much more aware of the inconvenience it is to my sellers when dealing with their pets and how agents really feel about a cat (my cat) being present when they're with buyers in my home! Thanks for the post!

Sep 04, 2010 04:56 PM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Hi Sonja,  all pets should be romoved before any showing, a buyer could be lost!

Sep 04, 2010 05:22 PM
Shelley Rowton
Move To Realty - Austin, TX
ABR, RSPS - (512) 507-5779 MoveToRealty of Austin

I've had experiences where the crated dog barked constantly through the showing, once even through an agent tour I attended.  Sellers just don't know how much that taints the buyers experience.

Sep 05, 2010 08:53 AM
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

David, you bring up a great point about allergies!!

Chris, I KNOW my dog would be barking non-stop if some "strangers" were parading through the house!  She is little but a fierce defender!

Dan, you are right... a buyer could walk away before giving the house a chance!

Shelley--wow! during an agent tour!!  I'll bet the seller got plenty of feedback from the agents!

Sep 05, 2010 09:57 AM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

I don't like cats either! Always a fun read Sonja... hope business is doing very well for you guys! :-)

Sep 05, 2010 10:22 AM
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Thanks Greg!  Somebody looks like Daddy!! What a precious family you have! :)

Sep 05, 2010 10:33 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Sonja, I have had people who were allergic to cats but never someone afraid of them. It is easy to crate a dog but not so easy with a cat.  Like Chris said they think you are torturing them.  You can try and lock them in a room but then they can try and claw their way out.  UGH!  I don't know the answer for cats as it is also hard to ride around in the car with them. 

Sep 05, 2010 03:23 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Sonja - there are way too many people who are either afraid or allergic to animals.  Even when they love animals, there can be those that take a dislike to you or your client and then al you want to do is make a quick getaway.  If you really want to sell, the seller wil figure out a way to show sans pets.

Sep 06, 2010 05:20 PM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi Sonja, When looking for our last home a family member has bad allergies so homes animals where lived had to be off the list. I think Lora gave you great advice in her last line!

Sep 14, 2010 02:43 AM
Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Lora --that is good advice to show without pets!

Cynthia, I'm glad you all found a good home. I'm sure an allergy can narrow the showing list quickly!

Sep 14, 2010 10:32 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

My mother in law is like that with cats.  She freaks out if one jumps onto her lap, but doesn't know why.

Sep 19, 2010 03:05 PM