Putting your house on the market - Showings and Pets
Selling a house - Showings
When you are getting ready to put your house on the market, and you have pets you need to decide where the pets will be during showings.
If you have pets that are caged (birds, reptiles, hamsters etc.) or if you have a fish tank you probably do not need to make any special arrangements. Check though that there are no strange odors near the cages and look to make sure the cages and the areas around them are clean, since that could be a turn off for the buyers. If you have a large snake or something else suprising, you might want your agent to add special notes to the showing instructions since some buyers might "freak out", without a warning.
CATS
If you have a cat or many cats that are several things that you can and should do. First check to see that their litter box is not smelly and you might have to move it to a less obvious spot if it is currently in an area that is clearly visible (and in buyers mind an eye sore). Check the area where the cats eat and clean the area if necessary. If you can put away the food bowls for the showings that would be great.
Whatever routine your cats have, whether they come and go as they please (indoor/outdoor) or are only allowed in the basement, make sure the showing instructions let the other agent know how to handle your specific situation. For Example, if your cats go to the basement (to use the litter box) but are free to roam everywhere inside the house and not outside, your agent might include this to the showing instructions: Friendly cats, leave basement door open, do not let cats outside! Your agent will ask you specific questions about your pets to make sure the other agents know what to do.
If you can go home before the showings and take your cats out (in their carrier etc.) that is obviously fine too.
One of the major complaints about cats the buyers have is cat odors around the house!
DOGS
Now this is where you need to put yourself in the buyers shoes. Many buyers would rather not have to deal with dogs when they are looking at houses. If you can take your dog with you or have a neighbor watch your dog while there are showings that would be great. If you usually kennel your dog/s during the day that is fine as well. It is important to know details about the dogs as it can create problems. Showing instructions for one house said that there is a large dog that will bark and growl but she is friendly!? Sure made us apprehensive. The buyer didn't even want to go in. After about 5 minutes of coaxing and talking to the dog from the crack of the door I finally calmed the dog down enough for us to enter. We were there for about 5 minutes, the buyer couldn't concentrate and didn't want anything to do with the home! Even if your dog is friendly to you, it may not seem like that to the buyers.
If you have large dogs or dogs that are not so friendly it would be best to take them out of the home for the showings. If the showing instructions say: dog in back yard, DO NOT GO THERE! or dog in garage do not go in? etc. it makes many buyers and agents apprehensive, some will even cancel the showings without ever even seeing your house.
If you have small dogs or just cannot remove the dog/s out of your home for the showings, CLEARLY state everything there is to know about the dog/s including where the dog will be, is it friendly, what is the dogs name, etc.
It is also a good idea to leave a NOTE. Taped on a door or glass in front of where ever the pet is to PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH! or PLEASE DO NOT ENTER. DOG IN THE BACKYARD! etc.
Many people have pets and most agents have learned how to handle situations with pets, and many buyers have pets too, but for everybody's comfort, either remove the pet from the house - if possible - for showings or leave CLEAR instructions how to handle your pets and leave NOTES for people entering your home.
And finally - clean areas around pets, their food and their "toilets", this includes picking up poop in the back yard!
Now lets get that home sold!
Contact Brian Burke, Managing Broker with Kenna and Co. Real Estate @ 303.955.4220 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in the Metro Denver Area, including Douglas County, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton and Parker. Your referrals are always welcomed. |
Disclaimer: Kenna and Co. Blog does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. Blog posts on the Kenna and Co. Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author(s). Kenna and Co. Blog does not express the views of Kenna and Co. or those of the broker.
Copyright 2008.© Kenna and Co. Rita Burke. All Rights Reserved. Sept 6th 2008. "Putting your house in the market - Showings and Pets"
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