Pets are known to provide companionship and offer a sense of love and security. Not only is this beneficial for the pet owner, but pets can also help improve an individual’s overall health. Owning a pet has been shown to decrease blood pressure, elevate moods, and promote exercise. In addition, pets can serve as an important social outlet, providing their owners with opportunities to meet new people and make new friends. Thus, owning a pet can be both enjoyable and medically beneficial.
The bottom line is that it’s no secret that many people consider their pets to be members of the family. In fact, according to a recent study by the National Pet Owners Survey, more than 60% of U.S. households have at least one pet.
As a pet owner, you know that your furry friend is an important part of the family. And when it’s time to sell your house, you may be wondering how to include them in the process. Here are a few tips for selling a house with live-in pets.
Is It Hard To Sell A Pet-Friendly House?
Many homeowners are choosing to include pet amenities in their home design plans, thinking that it will make their home more appealing to potential buyers down the road. However, a new study has found that this may not be the case – in fact, selling a pet-friendly house may actually be harder than selling a traditional home. Let’s take a closer look at the findings of this study and find out what it means for homeowners who want to cater to pet lovers.
Pet ownership in the United States is at an all-time high, and this trend does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. According to a recent survey, around 63% of American households own at least one pet – which means that there are a lot of homes out there that have been designed with pets in mind! However, despite these obvious benefits, selling a house that’s built for pets isn’t the easy task many people think it will be.
It’s worth remembering that not everyone is an animal lover and as such many people may look past a property that is marketed as pet-friendly.
What To Do With Your Pet During The Sale Process?
It’s no secret that the sale process can be a stressful time for homeowners. Between scheduling showings, dealing with potential buyers, and completing the necessary paperwork, there’s a lot to keep track of. And if you have a pet, things can be even more challenging.
Not every buyer is going to be a fan of your pet, so it’s important to plan ahead and make sure that any potential buyers will be okay with the presence of your four-legged friend. Leaving a house hunting trip at the last minute can leave you in a tough spot if you’ve failed to plan for this contingency.
Try to schedule showings when you know that both you and your pet will be able to relax at home or, better yet, avoid them altogether until after the sale is finalized.
It’s important to inform your agent about the presence of a pet in your home. They may have a good idea as to how this will impact the likelihood of a buyer making an offer, which can help you make decisions down the road.
In most cases, pets aren’t viewed as a major issue unless they’re large dogs or cats that shed profusely or bark all day long. But some agents may tell you upfront if buyers with severe allergies could be affected by certain types of pets. If this is the case, the animal should be removed from the property for any viewings or open houses as well as marketing materials (especially if the house is not being promoted as pet-friendly).
Preparing The Property
Dogs are a part of the family for many people, and when it comes time to sell a property, it’s important to make sure it is dog-friendly. Below, we will discuss some ways to prepare your home for sale while keeping your furry friend in mind.
Remove Any Pet Objects
If you’re planning to sell your home, it’s important to remember to remove any pet objects before doing so. Pets can leave behind a lot of messes and odors that can be difficult to get rid of, and they can also deter potential buyers from making an offer. By removing all traces of pets from your home, you’ll make it much easier for potential buyers to visualize themselves living there and increase the chances that your home will sell quickly.
Getting rid of such things will also minimize the pet odors, which is a huge turn-off for some home buyers.
Get Rid Of Pet Odors
When you’re getting ready to sell your home, one of the last things on your mind is pet odor. But if you don’t take care of it before putting your home on the market, potential buyers could be turned off right away. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get rid of pet smells and make your home more appealing to buyers. Here are four tips for getting rid of pet smells in your home before selling.
The first step is to pet-proof your home by making sure that it’s free from any traces of animal hair or dander. That means getting rid of the carpet because even if you shampoo it, there still might be a lingering smell since pets shed their hair and spread dander throughout your house. If you have hardwood floors, simply sweep them often to keep the hair and dander from accumulating. You should also remove all curtains and have them dry-cleaned so they don’t smell like pet urine or other odors. All upholstered furniture should be well cleaned as well.
2. Scent Removal
To remove odors from fabrics, use spray bottles filled with club soda or hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Mist the solution on the fabric until damp, leave for 10 minutes, and then dry thoroughly. This also works well for mattresses that have pet odors.
3. Enzyme Cleaners
Using enzyme cleaners can help with most stains, even urine spots that have dried up because they break down proteins in the pet’s waste so it’s easier to remove them once you have pretreated them. The cleaner will also work with skunk spray. Simply apply the enzyme cleaner on the affected area and let it sit for an hour before rinsing off completely and following up with a water rinse to make sure it doesn’t smell like chemicals anymore. You should also consider using one of these cleaners if your pet has diarrhea accidents inside your home.
4. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning on carpets works to destroy odors on contact. Even if the spot is dry, the heat from the machine will work to break up the stain and remove most of it so you can sop up what little bit may be left behind after rinsing off the area with soap and water.
You should use hot or warm (never scalding hot) water through your steam cleaner because cold water doesn’t offer enough heat to penetrate deep down into carpet fibers where many bad odors originate. Make sure that you vacuum first before steaming. This way you’re removing as much hair, dirt, and debris out of the carpet as possible.
Clean Up Pet Stains
When selling your home, the number one requirement is to get it completely, absolutely ready for showing. And if you have furry friends in your house, they’ll be shedding all over the place. Between couches, beds, and chairs, buyers don’t want to see pet hair lying around, or stains on carpets.
The main thing you should consider doing to clean up pet stains is to get your carpets professionally cleaned. If you can hire someone to steam clean your carpets, this would be ideal since it not only removes the stains but also blows out all the loose hairs and dander that get caught deep within them. If you don’t have access to professional steam cleaning equipment, use large rubber bristled brushes with stiff nylon bristles to take over carpeting and furniture surfaces.
The key here is to move quickly and with a degree of intensity. Pet hair dislodges more easily from the surface if you do this, but keep in mind that not all carpeting can stand up to this kind of vigorous cleaning. Don’t be surprised if part of the carpet is worn out after doing this. If there are areas where pet stains or heavy odors persist, try using a commercial stain remover product for carpets.
Repair Any Damage
Damage to a home related to pets can be a huge turnoff for potential buyers. In order to get the best price possible when selling, it is important to take care of any repairs that are necessary.
If the flooring of your home is starting to show cracks, it can make the whole house look older than it actually is. These cracks can allow pet odors and stains to get trapped underneath the floorboards. Repairing these cracks will not only improve the appearance of your home but also help reduce any excessive pet-related damage that may be occurring under your floors.
Small holes in walls caused by scratching posts or other pets should be patched up with joint compound, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Joint compound dries within 12 hours but needs 24 hours before you do anything heavy on top of it so give yourself plenty of time if you plan on doing this project yourself. If you are not up to the task of patching these holes, contact a professional contractor who can help you.
Check All The Outdoor Areas
When you are getting ready to sell your home, one of the most important things to do is to make sure that it is in as good of condition as possible. This means checking all of the areas both inside and outside of the home. One often-overlooked area is the outdoor space. Make sure to check for any damage or needed repairs, and take care of them before putting your home on the market. By doing so, you can give potential buyers a good impression and increase the chances of selling quickly.
Any dug holes should be covered up, broken fences mended, and animal objects should be removed. When it comes to the yard, make sure that any dead or dying plants are removed and that the grass is mown and edged. This will help give a tidy appearance and may even help you get a higher price for your home.
Summary
Even though more and more people are looking for pet-friendly homes, there are still some disadvantages to selling a property that is welcoming to animals. Keep in mind that these may not be applicable to all sellers, so be sure to consult with a real estate professional before making any decisions.
If you don’t wish to spend time and money making your home pet-friendly, working with a realtor shouldn’t be your first thought. Instead, cash buyers might suit the situation more. Cash buyers are always looking for homes in good condition and they may be more likely to consider your home than others.
With Simple Sell Home Buyers, our goal is simple – get a fair offer from us that you won’t want to refuse. Selling your house has never been easier than this. We understand selling a home doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. That’s why we offer cash in as-is condition without repair costs and will close when you are happy with our offer. Let us know about the property you’d like to sell, and we will get you an offer as quickly as we can. If you are interested in getting into contact with us or to schedule a home tour, give us a call at (+)1-516 603 5748.
Image Credits
Royal LePage Realty / Google Stock Images
Washington Energy Services / Google Stock Images
LookOut Pro / Google Stock Images
Honest Pet Products / Google Stock Images
Blue Water Carpet Care / Google Stock Images
Steam Giant / Google Stock Images
Animal Care Center / Google Stock Images
