When you are thinking about selling your house, you are likely thinking about what price it should be & where you will live next. Thinking about how your cat might feel may not be at the top of your list of concerns. But, selling a home that has pets provides a special set of challenges and, thankfully, some pretty easy solutions.

First things first. You love your pets. Heck, I love your pets! But, not everyone feels this way. In fact, its not uncommon for people to be scared of cats, dogs, lizards or the Fred, pet tarantula. While we may love our furry, scaly or 8-legged friends, their presence can be a distraction or even a deterrent.

   In addition to potentially scaring buyers, having pets around while people are viewing the house can result in the animal being set free on accident or a possible injury to either party. You might be used to a cat weaving through your legs, but other people may not be. I’ve had cats all my life and they still trip me at least once a week!

So what do you do if you have pets AND want to sell your house? Let’s go through some solutions that will decrease stress for you, your pets and the buyers.

1. Wash all soft surfaces. We get used to the way ours homes smell and become nose blind. Even the cleanest pets have an odor and it can stick to blankets, bedding and even curtains. Give it all a good wash and don’t forget to wash the pet beds and toys.
2. Declutter. If you were to go into my house right now, you would swear there must be at least 10 cats living there. Every room is littered with fuzzy mice, feathers and little balls. We have cat towers in just about every room. All for one very spoiled cat. If this sounds familiar, go pick up those toys and put them away for now. Leave a few of their favorites and save the rest for enjoyment in your next home. The last thing we need is for a potential buyers tripping over a little cat sized tennis ball and almost killing themselves.
3. Dig out the carriers and leashes from the closet. It is very important to remove your pets prior to buyers arriving for a showing. Even the sweetest dog gets territorial when a stranger enters their home. Most animals will protect their property and you don’t want your buyers running away scared. Or worse, bitten. As a Realtor, I have encountered many lovely dogs and also have had my fair share of dog bites. Plan on removing the pets for each showing. If you have a dog or cat, pick up a few calming collars from Petsmart or Chewy.com. They work very well at calming animals and making time spent in cages or your car a little easier. Bring plenty of treats with you so the pets can associate these excursions with their favorite snack! I also advise giving me a window of time for showings. This way I can work all the requests into this time frame and you can take the pets on a little adventure in the car or at a friends or family members house. With proper planning, we can reduce stress and possible incidents.
4. If your pet is a reptile, rodent or arachnid, please be aware that this might upset some people and consider covering the cage with a small towel. Or move the tank someplace where it is not in full view. Also, keep the tank clean as smells build up quickly and can turn off potential buyers. And please, do not choose showing time as the time to feed the snake his daily mouse!

Bottomline, while our pets are near and dear to us, they can be a distraction. Some people will be uncomfortable around them or forget to close doors properly. I would hate for a pet to get lost, especially if it was preventable. Which reminds me, before letting your pets free in your home, check that all the doors and windows have been safely closed.

To recap: clean up, declutter and get those pets safely out of the home when it is being shown. I know it can be tricky but if we work together, and plan accordingly, the process of selling your home can be easy and stress-free for everyone, including Fido and Fred the Spider!

For assistance selling or buying, please call 757.289.5352

Thank you