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Home Staging Tips - Boca Raton-Must Love Dogs is not everyone's movie!

By Kathy Streib

Home Stager

December 12, 2012 08:16 PM

Home staging tips in Boca Raton: Must Love Dogs is NOT everyone's movie.

If you plan on selling your house in Boca Raton, don’t forget...not all Buyers are pet lovers. “Must Love Dogs” may NOT be your Buyer’s favorite movie.

While you are cleaning, updating, editing and repairing items in your house, don’t forget that our 4 legged friends and their impact on your house need some Staging as well.

As much as we love our dogs, cats, birds, and Guinea pigs... when you’re selling house they can become a distraction. And, distractions real or perceived, inanimate or alive, can derail the sale of your house.

Buyers may be focusing on your cute and cuddly Golden Retriever or they could be wondering how quickly they can leave because they can’t stand the odor. In any event, they’re not looking at your house!

Home Staging Tips:

1. Get a 3rd Party/non-partial nose! Our own noses can become immune to odors that hang around every day. Ask your Realtor, neighbor, relative, friend .. even your enemy to give the “nose test” to your house.

2. Clean, wash and deodorize your pet's bedding, bowls, cages and toys.

3. Clean and deodorize your carpets... replace them if they have become soiled or worn.

4. Fabric or upholstered furniture will retain odors so the fabric needs to be cleaned and deodorized as well.

5. Repair areas that may have been damaged... for example if your pet loves to rub against the wall or furniture, it can leave behind not only their hairs but also the oils from their body which can darken the area. Check with your manufacturer for safe cleaning methods. Dog bath Check door jams for dark oily rub stains from your dog.

6. Finally... don’t forget to give Rover a bath... often.

More tips:

* Remove pet water bowls, toys, bedding etc when your house is being shown.

* Arrange to have your pet (as well as yourself) out of the house during showings. It’s not only good for your Buyers but for your pet as well.

* Vacuum your house daily,

and Finally....

Don’t even think of trying to cover up any odors with lit candles ( too dangerous) , simmering potpourri, or freshly baked cookies.

Buyers will not be fooled by this.

Remember- if you’re selling your house in Boca Raton, these home staging tips can help you get it sold!

Original post: Sellers-Must Love Dogs is a Movie NOT How You Want to Sell Your House.

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Nan Jester

Exit Real Estate Gallery Jacksonville Beach, FL - Jacksonville Beach, FL

Realtor, Exit Real Estate Gallery

I try to be aware of my own home every time I walk in. Nothing worse than pet smells in a home.

Dec 13, 2012 09:00 AM

Ron and Alexandra Seigel

Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA

Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Great advice Kathy, we have and had cats when were selling our home. Luckily our cats have always preferred the great oudoors outhouse, but in those times they are in we replace the litter immediately. Healtier for the cats and a definite relief for the nose. LOL

Dec 13, 2012 09:34 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I am sure I have to move before I can sell my house.

Dec 13, 2012 09:47 AM

Joanna Cohlan

Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY

Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Great points Kathy. I tend to think that cats are often more problematic because of allergens as well as cat litter-but I know that doggies can be just a tough with their wet paws and their dirty doggie toys. Remember, I'm a bulldog mommy!

Dec 13, 2012 09:51 AM

Cathy Criado

Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX

Making Real Estate Profitable

All are very excellent tips! I remember this one house I showed last year that had dog crap in the master bedroom. Not a good selling point, and I love dogs!!

Dec 13, 2012 10:37 AM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Not everyone wants to hear but you post is right on target.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Dec 13, 2012 10:39 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Donna- yes, even when you take care of the odors, etc, I think it’s still traumatic on the pets themselves.

Cindy- I can’t imagine having that sensitivity AND living in Houston as well since it can be so damp. My brother has one of those air things in his house. Thanks for the reblog.

Kathleen- something I neglected to mention is that if your home is scheduled to be shown the next day be careful of what you cook the night before. I’d avoid any fried foods or those with heavy odors.

Diane- thank you. I love this challenge because it’s “encouraging” me to do what I’ve needed to do... clean- -up and update my older posts.

Ginger- You’re very welcome.

Mike- I love dogs and goodness knows we’ve had to make some minor repairs with our first Brittany (she chewed up the steps by our hot tub!)

Nan- that’s smart! I know that depending upon the weather, I love having the windows open to “freshen” the house.

Ron & Alexandra- Oh I’ve had cats as well. I’ll never forget our first Christmas Eve in our new house years and years ago. We ended up with the carpet pulled back, my husband went out to get a new carpet pad and I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the slap.

Tammy- oh how funny.

Joanna- if you’re a bulldog mommy then you have your hands full. Our friends have one and great temperament but he requires a lot of maintenance.

Cathy- too much of an “ick” factor for me.

Lou- it really is a sensitive topic and I know it can be hard for a Realtor to bring it up.

Dec 13, 2012 11:10 AM

Ryan Moses

Realtypin - New York, NY

Thanks for the post.Rarely mentioned points when it come to home staging.I like the idea of getting a third party/non-partial nose.

Dec 13, 2012 11:18 AM

Suzanne McLaughlin

Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN

Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

It is rather odd how we acclimate to the smells in our own homes. Great advice, Kathy. And, I might use this when I list the next "pet-friendly" property!

Dec 13, 2012 11:21 AM

Melissa Zavala

Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA

Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I agree that it is funny how we get used to the oddities of our own homes. Great tips for making the homes show better for all--pet lovers and pet haters alike.

Dec 13, 2012 11:35 AM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Kathy:

Nothing is so off putting as a home that smells of dogie or kitty. Especially for people who do not have pets. Your advice is good for pet owners, get a neutral nose to tell you if your house smells.

Dec 13, 2012 12:32 PM

Joel Weihe

Realty World Alliance - Wichita, KS

Helping you to use your VA home loan benefits

There's this really nice house in a great neighborhood that keeps popping up on my buyers want to see lists. The House has been sitting awhile and when you go you can see why. There are two grossly overweight stinky dogs in crates in the basement and it totally turns off even the most pet loving buyers.

Dec 13, 2012 01:13 PM

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Kathy - Dogs do seem to leave dark areas on the paint, don't they?

Dec 13, 2012 04:38 PM

Debbie Gartner

The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY

The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

You are so right that we become immune to smells. Pets are lovely, but they definitely make it more challenging to sell you home

Dec 13, 2012 06:30 PM

James Dray

Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Kathy great post and so true. By the way congratulations on the feature very deserving I may add. enjoy the day

Dec 13, 2012 07:24 PM

Gabe Sanders

Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL

Stuart Florida Real Estate

So true Kathy, even pet lovers don't always like others pets.

Dec 13, 2012 08:21 PM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Kathy, have you ever walked into a home and found dog droppings under the dining table? I have! Or how about an overflowing kitty litter box? Yes! Sellers must realize their pets will affect their sale! Oh yes, then there was this large hairy spider!

Great article!

Dec 14, 2012 02:07 AM

Olga Simoncelli

Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT

CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Pet owners may be acclimated to their pets' odor, but the buyers are not! Agree that pets themselves as well as their odors can be very distracting during a showing. This happens even in very high-end homes.

Dec 14, 2012 04:50 AM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Kathy, all very good advice. Sellers just aren't aware of how their houses smell to others and we have to give them a step by step plan on how to prepare their homes for sale. You are absolutely right that lighting candles or using plug ins just makes the dog smell in the house smell like dog smell and vanilla mixed together. Not good!

Dec 16, 2012 06:58 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Ryan- it really is easy to become immune to the "scents" of our home.

Suzanne- hope you can put it to good use.

Melissa- there probably are many buyers who love pets and may have one of their own and I'd bet they may not be aware to the "scents" of their own pet-friendly home.

Evelyn- and do not use the simmering cloves on thre stove bit either!

Joel- to much of an "ick" factor. I consulted on a house with 4 massive dogs.. I'm talking 50+ pounds each and they had wrecked the house. I came home and washed everything I had on.

Christine- yep... from their body oils, mixed with their dirt and goodness knows what else.

Debbie- and you know about this I'd imagine from carpeting your guys have had to remove or other flooring issues.

James- and hello to you. Thank you, sir.

Gabe- you've got that right!

Janice- I could have done without the large hairy spider.

Olga- absolutely. No one wants to have to deal with that in a new home.

Michelle- it's just masking the odor and buyers know this. Besides, candles are dangerous!

Dec 16, 2012 11:05 AM

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