Selling a home is
stressful enough for home owners, but selling a home with pets can be
even more stressful. In addition to the usual concerns home owners have,
clients with pets also have to consider if they should move their
animals out while the home is for sale, how much it will cost to repair
any pet-related damage and if pet odor will deter potential buyers.
Unfortunately for pet owners, the truth
is that pets can turn away potential buyers and even lower the perceived
value of their home if they are not addressed prior to listing.
However, when properly prepared, homes with pets can be cleaned and
staged in a way that makes the existence of the pets almost
undetectable.
The first step is to sit down with your
clients and talk to them about the issue of selling a home with pets.
Most regard their pets as family members, so telling them that not all
buyers like pets can be emotional. Consider making the following tips
part of your listing presentation discussion so that the matter is
addressed right away.
1.
Eliminate Pet Odor
Although your clients might have become
accustomed to it, pet odors can deter potential buyers. Our sense of
smell has a powerful effect on our emotions and on our perception. The
scent of pet odor in a house is sure to stick in a potential buyer’s
mind, and this will likely cause them to deduct the cost of carpet
replacement from their offer. Even worse, if a buyer walks in the home
and smells a dirty cat litter box or soiled carpet, they might not even
proceed with the tour. To eliminate pet odor and keep potential buyers
moving through the home, consider the following:
- If not replacing carpet, have it
professionally steam cleaned. Don’t forget to also clean upholstered
furniture and area rugs. Any surface that holds in pet odor should be
cleaned, replaced or removed.
- Weather permitting, advise clients to open windows for a few days leading up to showings to help air out the home.
- Be cautious when using air fresheners.
You don’t want buyers to be blasted with the smell of artificial flowers
that scream the seller is hiding an odor. Some fresh flowers can not
only help with fragrance, but also add to the home staging. Also
consider air neutralizers and odor absorbing products. Rather than
masking the smell, these items actually absorb odor and neutralize the
air.
- Consider placing an air purifier in the pet’s main living area to filter the air.
- Replace air filters that might have trapped pet dander and odor.
2.
Repair Pet-Related Damage to Home and Yard
As much as we love our pets, the truth
is they cause extra wear and tear on the home, especially in the yard.
Assess the home and consider recommending the owner repairs as much of
the pet damage as possible before showing. Some areas to look at
include:
- Over-seed the yard or patch lawn areas to repair brown spots.
- Fill in holes created by
canine gardeners. Not only are they unsightly, they can be potentially
dangerous if someone were to trip in it.
- If doors and/or window screens have been damaged and scratched, replace them.
- Clean pet hair from hard-to-reach places such as behind appliances and behind doors.
- If wood or laminate flooring
is scratched beyond repair, consider repairing the floor. This might be a
large investment up front, but it can yield great results at sale.
3. Consider that potential buyers might be afraid of animals and vice versa.
Educate your clients about pet liability and discuss having the pets
temporarily (either during the entire sale process or on days when there
are showings and open houses) relocated if possible. If your client
does not have a relocation option, talk to them about crating their
animals during showings and open houses. For pets that are not already
crate trained, it can take time for them to enjoy being in the crate.
Suggest your client contact a pet trainer to learn how to introduce
their pet to a crate. Your clients can create positive associations with
the crate by giving the pet a treat-filled toy or bone to keep them
busy while in the crate. This is not only essential for the safety of
potential buyers, but it also protects animals from getting out of the
house, getting hurt, or causing harm to others.
4. Speaking of stress, animals can experience anxiety from having a lot of strange foot traffic in their home.
Potential buyers might be distracted by a stressed pet and a nervous
barking. Recommend that your client talks to their veterinarian to get a
product recommendation to help their pets cope with this stressful
event. National pet stores sell items such as plugins that release
stress calming pheromones. The plugins do not emit any scent and can
last up to three months. The pheromones released are only detected by
the animals and will not affect humans.
Above all, when selling a home with pets
remember that they are part of your client’s family. Your clients will
appreciate your compassion and willingness to not only help them sell
their house, but to also reduce the stress on them and their pets.
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