Everyone loves pets – except the prospective buyer who is looking at your home. One of the fastest ways to decrease your home’s resale value is to have a pet. Does this mean you need to get rid of that faithful friend? Of course not!  You just need to get rid of every trace of your animal(s) when showing your home.

                Some sellers choose to board their pets for the duration of their marketing period, but this can be expensive, and the length of the separation is more than most people would like. If you opt to keep your pets at home with you during the selling process, there are measures you can take to keep your furry friend from becoming a deal killer.

                  When a showing or open house is scheduled, the best option is to have your pets out of the house. You can accomplish this by taking them to a park or a friend or relative’s house if you are around and available. If you know you’ve got a showing during the day when you will be away from the home, a pet day care facility is a good option. If you are unable to remove the animal from the home for a showing, then containing them in one area is important.  A crate in the laundry room or a temporary kennel outdoors is one way to accomplish this. Remember that some buyers may be afraid of or just dislike animals, which will make a visit with a loose animal stressful for them. While removing the animals from the house during showings and Open House events is a start, there are several other steps you must take to make your home appealing to the discerning eye of the buyer.

                       Address any damage caused by your pets, both inside and outside your home. Scratched up wood floors, chewed baseboards and doors, and dug up plants are all signs of a pet – and a warning to potential buyers that there may be other damage to be on the lookout for. The cost of refinishing your floors, replacing doors, and cleaning up your landscaping will be less than the reduction in value of your home if you market it with this damage.

                        Odors can immediately ruin a buyer’s impression of your home. Strong odors are hard to remove, so walking in to a house that smells of urine, vomit or wet fur will be an instant turn off to a potential buyer.  Even if the smell is localized to one area (mudroom, basement, etc) it will likely be the thing the buyer remembers most about your home. Prior to listing your home you will want to take measures to remove any strong pet odors. Once listed, you will want to change litter frequently. When a showing or Open House is scheduled, boiling water with cinnamon for 30 minutes prior to the start time, or wiping down surfaces with a citrus based cleanser will help to cover the inherent smells that come with owning a pet.

                     Dirt, hair, and chewed up bit of whatever toys your pets might have are part of pet ownership but are also, well, GROSS. Nobody wants to see piles of hair in the corners of rooms, or furniture that is covered in hair. Paw prints and snout prints on the floors, doors and windows are just a reminder that an animal lives in the house. Vacuuming daily (or more than once a day if you have multiple animals or one that sheds a lot), and especially just before showings, is a must, as is cleaning all surfaces where a pet might leave their mark. Speaking of leaving their mark – make sure the yard is free of all animal waste before each showing!

For other tips go to www.thegutnerteam.com

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