Selling your house with pets can be stressful, time consuming, and fraught with unknowns for you, your furry friend, the Realtor, and buyer. Here are our top 3 tips to keep everyone happy and safe:
Walk Your Dogs - Take your dogs out of the house. We have had experience with all dogs. We have seen dogs that can break out of their crates like Houdini. Even your seemingly quiet dog will take on a different personality with strangers in their space. One small, seemingly quiet and sweet dog actually charged out the door and tried to jump into my car. Other dogs will follow the buyers around the house barking incessantly. Hire a dog walker or make sure your Realtor schedules showings when you are able to take your dog. It is inconvenient, but it makes the showing experience more comfortable for the buyers and your dog.
Corral Your Cats – Move them into the garage (weather permitting) or a gated area in the house or the basement with access to a litter box. We get it - cats are not as portable as dogs and they are usually chill and hiding when you are home with them. When you are away, though, they somehow change from “the cat that hides under the bed” to “the cat that charges the door and runs out” when the Buyer’s Agent shows up. At one showing there was a sign that said, “Don’t let cats out – 3 cats in the house.” Well, after a long day of showings for that house it turns out that there were only “2” cats left. One escaped somehow.
Secure Your Tanks and Cages - Reptiles, birds, fish, gerbils, and rabbits may seem to be harmless during showings. Many buyers have jumped, squealed, or simply run out of the house because of a fear of snakes. Be sure that your Realtor reaches out to the Buyer’s Agent ahead of time.
At the end of the day, our pets are what turn a house into a home. Selling your home doesn't mean your furry friends have to suffer through the stress. Let's chat about how we can get your property sold while keeping your pets safe and comfortable. Drop us a line to get started!
