Selling a Home with Pets? Tips for Presenting Your Property

Homeowners with pets face many challenges when the time comes to sell their house. Damage from claw marks and teeth, pet dander and even presence of pet accessories can affect home buyer interest in the property. If you're trying to sell your home and you own pets, taking steps to stage your property can help. Here's what you need to know.

Clean Thoroughly Before Every Showing

Pet dander can leave the home with an odor, and can also affect home buyers with allergies. Cleaning thoroughly before every showing can help reduce these problems. Homeowners can remediate these problems by vacuuming, dusting, laundering and deodorizing.

Washing sheets, comforters, blankets and even curtains can help reduce the presence of pet dander in the home. Before the home buyers arrive, opening the windows can help air out the house and reduce any pet odors in the home.

Keep Your Pet Out of the House

Some home buyers are afraid of animals, and will feel uncomfortable in a home where an animal is being kept. Homeowners who want buyers to feel welcome can prevent this problem from occurring by taking their pet elsewhere during home showings. For some pet owners, this is as easy as taking their pet for a walk. In other cases, the pet may need to be dropped off with a family member or friend for a short stay.

Make Repairs to Damaged Areas

Smells from pet urine, claw marks and chew marks on the floors and walls can lead to lower offers or no offers at all. Repairing pet damage before showing the home can help ensure that home buyers will make bigger offers.

Put Away Pet Accessories

Pet toys tend to look chewed up, as can pet beds and pet food dishes. This can make the home look messy and cluttered overall. Putting away pet accessories before showings helps reassure homeowners and makes the house look cleaner.

Work With Your Real Estate Professional

If you're a Heritage Hills homeowner with a pet who would like to sell your property, consult with a real estate professional. Your real estate agent can help you decide what else needs to be done to stage your property, and what you can do to make your home more presentable for buyers.