What Does your Dog Really Cost?

Selling your home and owning pets

For most pet owners, their animals are beloved members of the family, but some buyers are allergic to, fearful of, and/or simply don’t like animals. And, the odor and fur of animals can make buyers question the cleanliness and potentially the overall care of the home (whether we like it or not).

Keeping the ultimate goal in mind of appealing to the largest pool of buyers possible, we must consider the very real likelihood of buyers dismissing your property due to animal-related issues.

If you plan to have a pet in your home while being listed, it is critical that the dogs be kept away from the house or at a minimum crated or in a fenced in area during showings. And perhaps just as important, the home must be as free as possible from animal odors, fur, and dander.  It goes without saying that the yard must be “poop free.” I have been in situations where I am unlocking the front door and can hear a very large dog barking inside, it is a bit scary to be opening a door and wondering where he dog is…

Think of each scheduled buyer showing as a “first date”

Getting your home ready to show is like getting ready for series of first dates. You want the house to look as good as possible for each showing. So clean it up & make it look good! Think bright & cheerful and clean & fresh. Before each showing you basically want the house to look like a “model” home. Turn on the lights & open blinds, clean the kitchen & bathroom sinks & counters, straighten bath towels or replace them with “show towels”, tidy closets, make beds, empty all the trash the front & back porches, make sure laundry is put away (clean & dirty), put air fresheners in each room and wipe off door handles and areas around as needed. Keep in mind that first impressions count!