Selling a Home with Pets: 3 Tips

Posted by Lauren Schneider on Monday, February 24th, 2020 at 7:46am.

How to Sell Your Home When You Have a PetPets can be a great joy, but they can also make selling a Northeast Colorado Springs home more difficult. Pets underfoot can deter buyers and may even lead to a lower sale price. If you're a homeowner with a pet, and you're trying to sell your home soon, these tips can help make the selling experience a better one overall.

Keep Pets Out During Showings

Pets can be frightening for buyers who are not comfortable around animals. They can also be problematic for home buyers who have pet allergies. Some home buyers may be reluctant to come inside a home with animals inside, so when homeowners leave their pets at home during showings, this can make their home harder to sell.

Homeowners who want to make their home as inviting and welcoming as possible should remove their pets from the premises during an open house or a showing. For short showings, dog owners may simply take their dog for a walk. Cat owners may need to load their cat in a carrier and take the cat for a drive. For longer showings, the homeowner may need to drop their dog or cat off with a friend. Don't forget to supply dog food if the time away is more than four hours. 

Clean Pet Hair and Dander Before Showings

Because some buyers may have allergies, it's critically important for home sellers to clean their house before showings. Carpet raking and shampooing, upholstery cleaning and dusting are all activities that homeowners can do to remove dander and pet hair from their home. Deep cleaning may need to be repeated before all showings to ensure that all visitors to the home will feel comfortable while on the property.

Point Out Pet-Friendly Features When Appropriate

Pet-friendly features can be a bonus for some home buyers. Homeowners who live close to landmarks like a dog park or good sidewalks for dog walking should point out these features in the home listing. This can help attract pet lovers.

Work With Your Real Estate Professional

If you're a homeowner with a pet, work with a real estate agent before trying to sell your home. A good real estate professional can help you make your home more attractive to home buyers.

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