I remember the first home I listed. I had 2 dogs and a Mazda hatchback. Last minute showings were a nightmare as we’d climb into the car and park down the road – while I prayed that I had managed to
vacuum up all of the dog hair, put the toys away, and hide the dog bowls…and dang! I forgot to clean up the business taken care of in the backyard!
Meet KC and Charlie. You just have to look at them and they will magically shed all over you. While I did manage to sell my home quickly, there were definitely some tense moments as juggling work, family, home and dogs became a full time job!
If you are trying to sell your home, the goal each and every time a potential buyer comes through is for them to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. While the super-sized comfy dog bed laying on the floor in the living room is not offensive to you – a non-pet owner may be immediately turned off.
So what can you do if you are trying to keep your home in showing-ready form while living with pets?
Here are some ideas for you to try:
•Give Fido a vacation – see if a relative or friend is able to keep your pet(s) while your home is on the market.
Since this may not be an option for everyone, read on!
•Try your best to keep shedding pets off the furniture. Fabric covered furniture and bed spreads are often the first thing people see when entering a room. Try to keep them hair-free.
•Keep doors to rooms closed. Often pets will just wander in and out of rooms, for no real reason, leaving a trail of hair behind them.
•Keep a bin handy to toss toys, bones and dishes into for last minute showings.
•More walks = less backyard business! Try taking your dog for walks more often rather than given them the run of the back yard or dog run. Believe me – when you are in a hurry to get the inside of the home ready, the backyard will almost always slip your mind!
•Have the carpets professionally cleaned. This will give your home a fresh scent and get rid of stains on the carpet that you may have just gotten used to seeing, so they are not as obvious to you any longer.
•Keep your Realtor® in the loop. Let them know if the pets will be in the home or see if a neighbour can assist with letting them outside.
•Do your pets sleep on the bed with you? Consider using a flat sheet on top of your comforter to collect pet hair. In the morning, remove the flat sheet for a hair-free bed. (don’t forget to close the bedroom door now!)
•Keep lint brushes handy. Use them to remove hair on the bed or toss cushions – or anywhere you spot pet hair as you rush out the door!
Looking for more tips to prepare your home for sale? Check out 60 Cleaning And Organisation Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale (By Cleaning Experts)
If you have a special circumstance with your pet, discuss this with your Realtor®. Chances are they may have a suggestion for you. As a professional, they have likely encountered many situations involving pets and showings and will be able to offer some great advice!
Good luck with showing your home!
