Selling Your Home when You Have Pets

Your dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotic animals may be your life, your joy, like children. But when it comes to putting your home on the market to sell, you'll likely not find some sympathetic buyers, but not all. Here are five issues surrounding pets and how you can deal with each of the challenges.

1) Allergies: to someone allergic to cats or dogs, this can be a show-stopper. No amount of cleaning and vacuuming can alleviate the symptoms experienced by very sensitive buyers. If your home is on the market, you need to be ready for some buyers either reject your property or be prepared to offer additional concessions to close the deal, like carpet removal, professional cleaning, etc.

TIP: Be sure that your listing agent has alerted buyers and buyer agents concerning what kinds of animals are in the house. You do not want someone to have a health emergency because they were unaware.

2) Liability: Your Fifi may be the picture of kindness when you're around but unannounced strangers coming in can turn many animals into territorial overseers. No matter what you believe about your animals, a bite, a swipe or merely threatening behavior can put buyers or buyer agents at risk. And simply tying them up outside might present a challenge if they're in the backyard or garage and it's now those areas not no longer accessible to buyers. Buyers want unfettered access to all the property.

TIP: If your pets are crate-trained, now's the time. Be sure that their crates are in a quiet place away from most of the traffic. If they're not crate-trained, consider having a friend, neighbor of family member go over to remove the animals during the showings. Keep in mind that it can be difficult for agents to keep on-schedule, so they may show up early or stay later than you expect.

3) Fear: Just because you're not afraid of your pet Anaconda doesn't mean that others aren't. Many people fear dogs, cats, birds, and your pet tarantula. A fearful buyer won't concentrate on the great things about your home, only their fears, if they go in at all.

TIP: Don't try to hide your pets. When buyers are looking at homes, they look in places you might not think they would, so don't risk it.

4) Smell: Most homeowners do a great job keeping their homes tidy during showings. But you can't fake clean. If you have animals, chances are your house smells like it, no matter how clean you are. Don't try to hide it by using sprays, plug-in scents, candles or any other masks. Buyers will notice and may wonder what else you're hiding. Clean thoroughly and often, change the cat litter several times a day, and have a trusted friend give you an honest assessment.

TIP: Hire a professional cleaning service that specializes in removing pet odors. This will make it easier to keep up on a daily basis while your home is on the market. Keep your windows open if the weather and your situation allows, and remember that while many buyers have pets of their own, they're not in love with yours.

5) Lost Pets: Even sellers who put, 'don't let the cat out,' signs on their doors can't account for distracted buyers, their unattended children, doors left open unintentionally, gates not latched properly. Every pet owner handles their pet differently and the door that always stays closed that is second nature to you, may be the escape route when someone unfamiliar is on the house.

TIP: For pets that need to stay in the house while you are out for showings, be sure to put a note on the front AND back of each door to the outside for inside-only animals. Be sure your listing agent includes an "inside-only" animal note in showing instructions for other agents, and consider keeping your pets in a room with a closed door for a two-door approach to help prevent escape.

Having pets makes most people's lives richer and more enjoyable, but not every buyer agrees. By removing as many pet barriers and obstacles as possible, you increase the likelihood that someon in love with your house won't find an excuse to keep looking.