My FLORIDA Dream Home : How to Sell A Home with Pets

68% of homes in the United States have at least one pet. We love our animals but does everyone

coming through your home? Selling a home with a pet is not always an easy process. Besides the fact of the animal residing in the house for some lookers, pet odors can also be an issue. Buyers use all five senses when looking at homes and smell can be one of the top factors in choosing which they wish to buy. If a home is free of pet odor, it generally makes one think it is clean. Many times when showing properties, one cannot even tell if a pet is in the home. Other times, it is an issue. Pet hair, strong odor and waste on the lawn is a dead give-away. In some cases it can even decrease the value of a home.

Another issue with pets is allergies. Some buyers have asked me not to show them homes where there are cats as they have strong allergies.

The following are some tips for preparing your home to show where fur babies abide:

1. Pets should not be present in the home when showings are taking place. It is always best to remove the pet from the property for appointments or confine to a crate. I have had sellers take their pet for a ride in the car or a walk around the block while the property is being shown. The sellers of a home I recently showed took their dogs to doggy day care while the house was being shown due to their work schedules.

2. Safety is also a concern. You many think your pet is harmless, but there are incidents of liability when accidents occur.

3. If you have cats or dogs, you may need to have your carpets and / or rugs professionally cleaned.

4. Blinds, curtains and any fabric should be washed and free of pet odor and hair. Clean and disinfect all the surfaces of your home including air conditioning / heating vents and filters. I keep a small container of Odor Ban just inside my AC intake. This is a great product for eliminating any odors in your home. You can fill a small spray bottle to keep handy before showings to spruce up. If you cannot tell if there is pet odor in your home, ask a friend or neighbor to drop by and give you an opinion.

5. Keep litter boxes and pet bedding clean and out of sight. Clean up any pet waste in the house and in the yard.

6. If your pet has destroyed baseboards, molding, doors, drywall or flooring, be sure to replace and restore before placing your home on the market.