Sellers: Don't Let the Dogs Out on the Buyers!!

Great post and spot on! Some buyers will be so distracted by the pet, that they will miss out on what the home has to offer.

I'm with you 100%.  Not everyone is a pet lover either so for some people, just having a pet in the house is an issue, let alone running all over.

Hi Karen, I'm a pet owner and for all the reasons you mentioned I totally agree with you that pets should be removed during showings. 

Karen: I have three dogs and have had cats but when it comes to showings, they need to be removed from the property. Every time I've shown a home with a pet, the whole showing revolved around the pet for me, the agent, when I should be pointing out the good things about the house. And the prospective buyers are never amused even if they are animal lovers.

The only time I've ever been bitten by a dog was on a showing.  I was told by the listing agent that the dog was a "teddy bear".  He met us at the front door growling and baring teeth.  When I reached out to let him smell my hand he lunged and just caught my hand with a tooth. Luckily I'm pretty quick.  Needless to say, my clients did not want to see that home.  Sellers, take your pets with you when you leave the home if you're trying to sell it.  Good post Karen and best of luck to you.

All great points, Karen.  I too love pets, but I don't always trust them when the owners aren't around.  The allergy reason is one I'm seeing more and more.  Good stuff. 

Karen lots of great points.  Allergies ARE a big concern.  I am very allergic to pets.. It doesn't go over well when the agent is sneezing and wheezing. It's worse with the prospective buyer is sneezing and wheezing!

Oh and can you do something about the animal smell.  masking it with heavy incense is not doing something constructive about the animal smell.

Karen, The sound of a barking or growling dog inside a home the agent and buyer are about to enter isn't very welcoming even when the MLS comments say: friendly dog.   They're just doing their job by being territorial.   I completely agree with you post.

Karen, I do not show a house with a loose dog in it. Period. And barking pets who bark the entire time you are in the house are not conducive to a buyer wanting to buy that house when we all have a headache by the time we leave.

Sharon

Pets are best when absent during showings!  Not long ago, I met with a listing agent to see a home the owners wanted staged (the owners were at work and had  two dogs).  One smaller dog was on a chair in the living room, very dejected looking and making no eye contact, just staring down at the floor.  In the next room, the larger dog was kept in a dark closed crate in the back corner -- you couldn't even see the dog at all, it was like in a dark cave.  Neither dog made a sound but the silence was deafening.  The listing agent said she'd gotten many calls from other agents complaining about how these dogs were being treated -- that even their buyers were complaining about it!  One buyer even insisted on leaving and not seeing the rest of the house!

Sellers need to care for their pets and for eveyone's sake, keep them in a safe, secure place away from the house when it's on the market.

Karen - Animals can certainly make it more difficult to sell a home.

I am always worried when mls comment says. ' do not let the cat or dog out"

Perfect timing, while unlocking the door yesterday a dog flew outside faster than I could react.  Apparently the seller had a family member staying with him and brought his 4 legged baby with him.  Needless to say no one was alerted about the addition to the household.  The listing agent wasn't even aware and was as suprised as I was.  Although he was apologetic it was extremey frustrating having to chase down a dog and get him back inside.  Luckily he was very friendly and loveable.  Great post, thx for sharing

I am an avowed animal lover, but not eveyone is.  I had a listing of a 1.6 million dollar home that had the best and nicest Golden Retriever.  She was obedient and just wanted to please, but when it came to show the home, out she went.  I always asked people coming to see the house if they liked dogs knowing that Sadie would love them.  When they were unsure or said no, Sadie was happy to take a nap in the yard.  Paying attention to our clients and how they feel is our job, right? The fact I love animals does not mean the wonderful list of issues you bring up are not right on--they are. Thanks for the great post

So very, very true!  Not only are dogs unpredictable when their humans are not at home, but so many people are just fearful of ANY dog, no matter of how much a teddy bear they might in fact be.  And I can't imagine the trauma and consequences if that "super friendly" dog lunged out and bit a small child??  Of course, being a dog and cat lover, what really stresses me out is that message in the listing that the cat is an escape artist and please don't let it outside - almost slammed the door on my buyer's hand once trying to make sure that little kitty didn't scoot past us!