Everyone knows the importance of decluttering and staging a home to help it sell. Yet, I am amazed by the many homeowners who will go through all of this preparation and still don't put their best foot forward when selling their homes.
Nothing is more disconcerting to buyers than entering a home for sale and being greeted by a dog or cat, or being distracted by the constant barking of a dog in a cage. Additionally, many people are allergic to certain kinds of animals and when that animal rubs up against them, they get rather upset because they are worried that an allergy attack might ensue.
To note, if the buyers don't like animals and they see a dog or cat food bowl let alone the dog or cat itself, the buyers will notice "pet smells" that don't even exist and will cross your house off their list right away.
Furthermore, agents showing the home are always worried when given instructions by the sellers such as, "Please don't let out the cat or dog." We really don't want the responsibility of making sure that the animal stays in the house in addition to watching our clients and their children (especially problematic if a pet is in the house), educating our clients about the home, making sure that the lights are off, and locking up the house when we leave.
Having had a dog as part of our family for 17 years, I can't imagine allowing strangers to come into my home and hoping that they will make sure the pet is safe and remains in the house. I just wouldn't expect strangers to care that much.
Case in point, last week when showing a home in the frigid cold a dog was outside on the porch and seemed to want to go into the house. I asked another agent showing the home (who was there when I arrived) if the dog was allowed inside the home. He said, "I think the dog belongs to a neighbor because he was here on the porch when I got here." I then called the listing agent to verify if the sellers owned this dog and if he was supposed to be left outside or inside the home. He looked like an indoor type dog and was shivering from the freezing cold weather. This was the sellers' dog and he was supposed to be inside the house.
About a month ago (and on another freezing cold day), I was showing a home and the agent before me let out the little white poodle who lived there. The poodle ran down the street and the neighbor chased it, caught it, and put it in the backyard. When I pulled up to the house with my clients, the neighbor greeted me and asked me to let the dog inside (which I did).
These are only two accounts of many similar incidences that Jesse and I have experienced during our careers as realtors. So, if you have a pet and are selling your home, what should you do? During showings take your pet with you when leaving the house, have a friend or neighbor take care of it during showings, or invest in pet daycare.
Put your very best foot forward when showing your home to potential buyers and make the process less stressful on your pets. It's a tough time for them, too.
Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri
