You hear a lot about the importance of curb appeal when selling a home. It’s true that potential buyers can decide if they like a home within minutes of seeing it from the outside. But, if you’re selling a home with pets in it, not even great curb appeal might be able to ensure you get the highest price for it.
Your pets are part of your family. You take care of them, adjust your life for them; and they take care of you. One of the reasons that Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan houses for sale are in such high demand is their larger yards, and nearby parks and trails, where owners can exercise their dogs and cats.
However, even for other pet lovers and pet owners, the signs and smells of pets in a home they are viewing can put them off from buying the house.
How to Sell a Home with Pets
Even when real estate is in a “seller’s market”, the more you do to make your home attractive to potential buyers, the more you can expect to get for it; and it will likely sell faster too. If yours is a house with pets, consider doing the following before you put it up for sale.
Arrange to Relocate Your Pets
We listed this one first because it’s the toughest one for many pet owners to deal with, and rightly so. But, if you think about the stress your pet will go through every time a stranger walks in the house, or if they are locked in the garage, you’ll see that this can be the best solution all around.
Before putting your house on the market, arrange for your pet to stay with family, friends, or at a boarding kennel. Homeowners who just can’t part with their pets have even arranged to move out with them into a short-term rental.
Get Rid of Any Signs of Your Pets
Ask a non-pet-owning friend to help you spot everything that needs to be done here because this means a lot more than just hiding the litter box. Having a friend visit is a great way to spot things that others notice, but don’t.
In addition to removing pet-related items, like pet hair and toys, be ready to make repairs to any damage pets have caused around the house, like removing claw scratches from hardwood floors.
Get the Entire House Professionally Cleaned
One of the “signs” of pets in a house is the smells associated with them. Smells that pet owners no longer notice or accept as normal. Especially if your pets have had “accidents” in the house, It’s not enough to do regular cleaning and try to mask odours with air fresheners.
A professional cleaning, including steam cleaning carpets and drapes, is the best way to get rid of the tell-tale signs of pets in the house.
For more home-selling tips, check out our article “5 Tips for Selling Your Home in Ontario”.