While previewing and showing homes, I have run into situations where I felt that pets were being neglected. I've unwound a puppy who tangled his rope around a tree and couldn't reach his water bowl (which I refilled). I've let dogs outside (and back in) who desperately needed to do their business. I've even cleaned the overflowing litter box of a poor lonely kitty whose owners were obviously out of town.
I also have had several clients who are phobic about animals, so I need to know that they are in the house so I can keep the pets away from them. I usually scout out the house and round up the cats and dogs, either petting them or corraling them somewhere while my client looks around.
I know sellers are told that if they have pets, they should somehow disguise that fact for showings. Or at least tidy up and put the pets away. Many people just can't take off work to come home and take their pets away for a couple hours.
Anyway, here's my first literal pet peeve: cat food placed in the same room as the litter box. Would you want to eat your meals near the toilets in a public restroom? Cats have a better sense of smell than most of us crazy humans do, too. Please put the litter box in the utility room and the food and water bowls in the kitchen.
Second pet peeve: dogs in crates or cages in the bedroom. I love dogs, but when my clients and I walk into the master bedroom and suddenly hear a menacing growl, I for one stop having a good time. Barking dogs are actually better--at least we know they're there. Sellers, please ask your listing agent to note in the showing instructions that a dog will be in the house, and in what room.
Third pet peeve: pets kept in the garage during a showing, especially with the light off. Okay, if the sellers would just put their pets in the garage for an hour or so and then run back home to let them out after the showing, I could live with that. But frequently I suspect the poor things will be left in the garage all day, where they will have to breathe gasoline fumes and won't get any daylight. Sellers, please put your pets in a ventilated room with a window, or at least leave the light on if they're going to be there all day.
I don't know if anything can be done about these issues. If anybody has a diplomatic way to talk to clients about how to take care of their pets while their house is on the market, please chime in. Any other pet peeves?
To reward you for reading this, here are photos of my two pets, Kitty and Miles:
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