Selling and Staging a Home with Pets

Amber RandhawaHome Staging, Homeowner and Homebuyer Tips

Photo Credit: Erda Estremera

The numbers show that here in the United States, we love our furry friends. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in pet-loving households across the nation there are 70 million dogs and 74 million. And that doesn’t even take into account how many people have less common pets, such as hamsters, fish, birds and reptiles. Pets supply us with limitless company, companionship and love, but when it comes to sell your home, they can make matters a bit more complicated. While you may think of your pets as an important part of your family, there is always the chance that some of the potential buyers coming to look at your home won’t be animal lovers. While it is true that selling a home with pets can be somewhat more challenging than selling an animal-free home, there are many ways to mitigate these concerns. With the right approach, you will be able to successfully market your property while still keeping the well-being of your furry friends at the forefront of your mind. This may mean a few additional preparations before a showing, but with the proper planning, your pets won’t create much of a distraction for potential buyers.

The most important thing to remember when you are selling a home with pets, is actually the same thing you always need to remember – it is vitally important to remember that buyers want to be able to picture themselves and their own lives inside your home. This means that unfortunately, to the extent that it is possible, any evidence that a pet lives with you should be hidden from sight. For some people, a messy backyard that shows evidence of being used as a dog’s restroom, or the sight and smell of even a freshly scooper litter box, can be enough to alienate a potential buyer during an open house or showing, causing the to remove your house from their list of properties to consider. If you are a pet owner, this may make the process of staging your home sound stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. By following a few of the suggestions we are listing her, you will still be able to achieve a successful and lucrative sale.


Preparing for Home Showings with Pets

One of the most important things you will need to consider when you are planning to start showing your home, is where your pets will be located while strangers are coming in and out of your home. Even well-behaved pets who tolerate strangers well could become agitated or aggressive if someone is entering your home when you are not there. After all, their instinct is to protect you and and your belongings from intruders. This is especially important to thing about if you have dogs that are not typically crated when they are left home alone. Some homeowners insurance policies do not provide coverage for dog bites, so in the rare circumstance that your dog actually bites a potential buyer, not only will you most assuredly lose the sale, but you could be responsible for pricy doctors bills as well.

An additional concern comes into play if instead of or in addition to dogs, you have one or more cats in your family. Cats are almost never crated when no one is home, and tend to have the run of any house in which they reside. When potential buyers are coming to view your home, they expect to see all of it, so closing pets up in one room is not an option – anyone considering purchasing your home deserves to get to view all of the rooms. What these potential buyers may see if they are visiting a home with cats, is that the felines often are free to move about any surface, even kitchen counters and dining room tables. For people who either do not care for cats or are simply not used to them, this can be rather off-putting.

All of this means that if you want to make your home as appealing as possible to the people coming to see it, the best plan is for you to find an alternative location for your pets during showings. You cannot predict how any particular buyer may feel about pets, and some pets can actually be a source of stress and/or fear for some individuals. It is also important to consider that some people are quite allergic to pets, especially cats. Creating a pet-free environment during showings is by far the ideal situation, and can help make sure that all potential buyers feel welcome and comfortable as they take a look around your home.

What If You Can’t Remove the Pet?

Photo Credit: Roberto Nickson @rpnickson

The safest and most responsible option is for your pets to be out of the house whenever potential buyers and agents are visiting your home. But of course, this isn’t feasible for everyone at every time. If you find yourself needing to show your home while your pets are there, there are also a few things you can do in order to reduce the amount of stress these home visits will cause for both the guests in your home and for your pets.

The easiest option for most people is to leave their dog or cat in a cage, crate or kennel during the showing. If you choose to do this, make sure your agent knows exactly where the containment system will be located and ask that this information be communicated to all agents who will be showing your home. Even though you have done your part and passed along this information, you should also have a note somewhere near your home’s entrance repeating the location of your pets and any instructions for visitors to disturb them as little as possible. Each potential buyer can choose whether to enter the room where your pet is contained or not, once they are armed with the necessary information.

If a containment system does not make sense for your situation, another alternative for dogs is for them to be placed inside a fenced yard. Potential buyers can likely get a feel for the outside of your home even if they do not enter every portion of the yard. You will still need to communicate this plan to your agent, and leave notes explaining where your dog is and whether or not they have a tendency to be aggressive and/or territorial. One thing you will always want to avoid is the temptation to try to hide your pets. Potential buyers will likely want to see every part of your home, including storage and laundry areas, and all parts of your basement whether finished or unfinished. So these locations cannot be your go to spot for hiding the existence of your pets.


Consider Your Pets Needs As Well

The reaction of potential buyers is not the only thing you need to be concerned with when it comes to selling a home where pets live. The changes and disruptions that come about during the decluttering and staging process often are a challenge to your pets’ established routine, and the presence of unfamiliar people and smells as potential buyers arrive to view your home can be stressful for some animals. If you have a pet who is already prone to anxiety or stress when there is a change to his or her routine, moving can become a very traumatic experience. It pays for you to be proactive and discuss your upcoming home sale and move with your veterinarian. Then the two of you can work together to come up with a game plan for helping your pets cope with the additional stress and upheaval in their world.

Hide the Evidence

Photo Credit: Tom Hills @thills123

Even if your pets will be home during showings, you still want to stage your home in a manner that created the illusion there are no pets on the premises. This does not mean simply hiding your pet’s belongings in a dark corner or closet, because potential buyers are likely to look everywhere throughout your house during a tour. There’s more to it than that, though your strategy will differ depending on where your pets are located during the selling process.

If you have been able to set your pets up in an alternative location during showings, you should take the time to pack up and remove all of the pet-related items throughout your home. This includes toys, food and water dishes, along with any food and treats, bedding and crates, leashes and collars, litter boxes and cat trees. You should also put away any pictures of your pet when you are packing away family photos. If your pets are remaining on the premises, you will have to be a bit more strategic when hiding their things, and it will be a bit more labor intensive. Empty all food and treats into non-descript containers that can be stored in the pantry without advertising what they are for. Choose a drawer for leashes and collars and brushes, something that is likely to remain closed while your house is being toured. Bedding, crates and litter boxes should be stored in a garage, basement, or storage shed, whatever you have available. Store them during showings and then you can put everything back out where it is needed once the visitors are gone.


Repair Damage Caused by Pets

Photo Credit: Joe Caione @_JoeyC_

No matter what the source of the damage is, if any part of your home is in disrepair, you will likely already be planning on fixing things before your home hits the market. Make sure that you are not overlooking minor damage caused by your pets when you are assessing what all needs to be fixed. As a pet lover, you may have gotten so use to the small imperfections your pets have caused in your home that they know longer stick out to you the same way they will to potential buyers. Remember, these visitors to your home will be looking at everything with a critical eye, and they will catch things you might miss. This includes both your home and accessories. Be on the lookout for ripped curtains, soiled carpets, damage from chewing or scratching on furniture and walls, along with scratches claws can make in hardwood flooring.

Another aspect of your home’s interior that you might overlook would be any pet doors that have been installed, whether into the garage for hidden litter box access, or to your yard for dogs to pass in and out. If at all possible, you should plan to replace any doors that have had a pet door installed in them. For some buyers, a pet door will simply signal that you have allowed pets to run around in your home, something that may be a turnoff. For others, a pet door represents a serious security concern, and can make them feel that your home is not safe.

Other damage you will need to address from pets can be found outside your home, in the form of torn or damaged window screens, scratch marks on fencing and gates, visible signs of digging in the yard, and an overabundance of pet waste. If your dog is living in the home while you are selling, you should scoop all waste as soon as it appears. Do not be tempted to let it build up for even one full day. This will help you make sure that nothing is forgotten or overlooked when you go out to clean the yard. For cats, make sure all litter boxes are scooped immediately after each and every use. This will help alleviate the unpleasant smells that can emanate from a well used litter box.


Do A Deep Clean

The most important thing you can do when you are selling a home with pets, is make sure that you are making extra efforts to keep your home completely cleaned and deodorized. Even if you normally clean your home yourself, this is a time when booking a professional deep cleaning should be considered. Do this before you even have your listing photos taken, and either schedule weekly visits until your house is sold, or else commit to doing a thorough weekly cleaning yourself so that everything stays in tip top shape throughout the home viewing portion of your real estate transaction. When cleaning, pay extra attention to all of the locations around your home where your pets spend the most time, and particularly to the area where they sleep.