Admin

What to Do With Your Pets During Open Houses and Showings

By
Real Estate Agent with LoKation Real Estate 3087750

What to Do With Your Pets During Open Houses and Showings

Selling a home in Boca Raton when you have pets comes with unique challenges. While buyers want to see your property’s best features, they might not share your love for animals. Managing your pets during open houses and showings is key to creating a welcoming environment that appeals to everyone. This guide offers practical tips to keep your pets safe and your buyers impressed.

What to Do With Your Pets During Open Houses and Showings

When selling your home, you want to minimize distractions and present your space in the best light possible. Here’s how to handle your pets during this process:

Find Temporary Housing for Your Pets

One of the easiest ways to manage your pets during open houses and showings is to have them stay elsewhere temporarily. Consider these options:

  • Ask a friend or family member to look after your pets.
  • Use a pet daycare or boarding facility.
  • Take your pets on an outing during showings.

This approach ensures your pets are safe and comfortable while eliminating distractions for potential buyers.

Create a Safe Space at Home

If relocating your pets isn’t possible, designate a specific area in your home for them during showings. Choose a quiet, out-of-the-way spot like a laundry room, spare bedroom, or enclosed patio. Make the space cozy with their bed, toys, food, and water. Let your Boca Raton real estate agent know about this arrangement so they can inform buyers and ensure your pets aren’t disturbed.

Remove Evidence of Pets

Before showings, remove all visible signs of pets to create a clean and neutral environment. This includes:

  • Litter boxes
  • Food and water bowls
  • Pet beds and toys

Clean thoroughly to eliminate odors and hair, and use air purifiers or pet-safe deodorizers to freshen the space. This helps potential buyers focus on your home rather than your pets.

Schedule Showings Around Your Pets

Work with your real estate agent to schedule showings at times that are convenient for you and your pets. Having a set schedule allows you to plan ahead and relocate your pets or prepare their safe space in advance.

Keep Pets Calm During the Process

For pets that stay home during showings, make their environment as calm as possible. Use white noise or calming music to mask outside sounds. If your pets are prone to anxiety, consider using pheromone sprays or consulting your vet about stress-relief options.

Inform Buyers About Pets on the Property

If your pets will be home during showings, always let your real estate agent inform buyers in advance. This prevents surprises and ensures buyers know how to navigate the property safely.

FAQ About Managing Pets During Open Houses and Showings

Check out these commonly asked questions about handling pets during home showings in Boca Raton. If you don’t see your question here, feel free to contact us for more advice.

Should I Always Remove My Pets During Showings?

Whenever possible, yes. Relocating pets creates a distraction-free environment and helps buyers focus on your home’s features.

How Can I Reduce Pet Odors Before Showings?

Deep clean carpets, furniture, and floors. Use air purifiers and pet-safe deodorizers to keep the space fresh.

What If My Pets Get Anxious During Showings?

Create a quiet, comfortable space for them away from the activity. White noise, pheromone sprays, or vet-recommended calming products can help.

Can I Mention Pet-Friendly Features in My Listing?

Absolutely. Highlighting features like a fenced yard or pet-friendly flooring can attract buyers who have pets of their own.

Why Should I Work With a Real Estate Agent?

A knowledgeable Boca Raton real estate agent can help you navigate the selling process, schedule showings, and ensure your pets are managed effectively. Managing your pets during open houses and showings doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right approach, you can keep them safe and happy while creating a welcoming space that appeals to buyers.

Are You Buying or Selling a Home in Boca Raton?

Ready to sell your home quickly and at the right price? Find out how much your home is worth now! If you’re looking for a new home in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach or Highland Beach, we can help. Use these popular one-click searches to find what you’re looking for:

 

Related Dog and Pet friendly articles:

 

Please feel free to reach out to me at (561) 716-7824 so we can talk about your personal housing needs and any questions you may have about the housing market.

 

What to Do With Your Pets During Open Houses and Showings

 

Posted by

Helping buy and sell Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and surrounding areas.

LoKation Real Estate

(561) 716-7824
CALL OR TEXT

Email Me

About MeMy BlogWebsite

   

Elyse immediately ‘got’ us


We found Elyse on-line after working with another realtor that was not helping us find what we wanted. Elyse immediately ‘got’ us and showed us the right properties while providing encyclopedic knowledge of neighborhoods, dog restrictions, lifestyle options and benefits/trade offs between one house/neighborhood and the other. Elyse consistently provided important information at every stage of our process. As out-of-towners this was essential to our making the right decision. We couldn’t be happier or more grateful to Elyse for everything she’s done. Elyse is a rare combination of being a true subject matter expert and, more importantly, a genuinely caring person who looks after her people.

Read More Testimonials

 

Comments(7)

Show All Comments Sort:
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Elyse - selling a home can be an inconvenience.  But when a home goes on the market for sale, buyers consider it another house for sale.  As a seller, are you really ready?  Doggone, it isn't easy and can be ruff, rarely purrfect.  🐾

Aug 08, 2025 03:34 AM
Elyse Berman, PA

Love this, Michael!  And it's so true!  "Doggone, it isn't easy and can be ruff, rarely purrfect.  🐾"

It isn't easy with pets.  They instinctively know what's going on and don't like strangers walking through their homes.  

Aug 18, 2025 01:22 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Elyse... so good to "see" you. It's been a while. And this comprehensive post on what to do with pets when showing a home is the bomb!

Aug 08, 2025 03:57 AM
Elyse Berman, PA

Good afternoon, Nina, It's so good to be back.  It's been a busy few months.  I'll tell you about it when I see you which, unfortunately, won't be tomorrow because I have a dentist appointment at the time of our meeting!  (and it's a new dentist)  Thank you for the kind words!

Aug 18, 2025 01:07 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Signs of pets in a home is often a deterrent for most prospective buyers, even if they love pets, but on many occasions I have witnessed non-pet lovers commenting about how it didn't even seem as if there were a pet in a home, where they knew there was at least one.  In these situations, I was very proud of the sellers for doing such a great job of mitigating the presence of a pet in the home.

Aug 08, 2025 05:15 AM
Elyse Berman, PA

Exactly Brian England .  We're so used to our pets, we barely notice it.  But others do and that can make all the difference in a sale.

Aug 18, 2025 01:09 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

I think it is hard on our pets (during showings). If you can get them out of the house...great, but try to give them a little space that will not hurt the showing but will make them feel safe. 

Aug 08, 2025 07:00 AM
Elyse Berman, PA

It is hard on our pets, Jeff.  They instinctively know something is up.  Then they have strangers coming through their home on top of that.

Aug 18, 2025 01:10 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, LLC ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
Educating. Encouraging. Serving.

Good morning Elyse Berman, PA ,'

Yay!! So good to see a post from you. This is an especially good topic because we encountered it a lot. You are right you want to minimize distractions and present your space in the best light possible. It's always best to have our family pets out of sight and gone during showings and open houses!

Aug 08, 2025 09:16 AM
Elyse Berman, PA

Hi Dorie,

Thanks!  It's been a rough few months.  Agreed!  They instinctively know something is up, and it's their home.  It's always best to have them out of the house during showings.    It's good to "see" you, too!

Aug 18, 2025 01:12 PM
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Elyse, great post, as so many homeowners do have pets.   The house I just listed has two rather large dogs, and they had showings starting at 9 am this morning, so they took them hiking.

Aug 09, 2025 02:49 PM
Elyse Berman, PA

Great idea to take them hiking, Joan.  Those are smart homeowners!  I hope you sold the house!

Aug 18, 2025 01:12 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Elyse Berman, PA Looking to buy or sell in a pet-friendly community or have questions about pets, she is the agent to call. She is my go-to agent  in  South Florida and has never let me down 

Sep 12, 2025 09:22 AM