More American homes are shared with pets than ever before. In fact, 66% of us have pets as a part of our family, as Forbes reported this year. While we all adore our pets, there is no denying that they make keeping our homes tidy more of a challenge.  

While you’ve doubtless done your best to maintain a clean and fresh-smelling home throughout your time as its owner, extra effort will be required when it’s time to list your home for sale. When your property hits the market, you can expect that roughly 60% of the properties listed near you have also been home to at least one pet. 

Despite previous pet residency being so common as to be prevalent, buyers aren’t going to enjoy catching whiffs of your cat’s litter box, seeing a doorway your dog has noshed on, or finding bits of pet fur lurking beneath the odd piece of furniture. Even buyers who also own a pet will want to imagine bringing their furry friends into a shared clean slate, and buyers who are less enthused about sharing space with pets may decline to pursue your home if any of these iffy issues remain.  

With that in mind, let’s talk about our most reliable tips for selling a pet owner’s home. 

Damage Control

Even the best-behaved pet was likely less angelic as a young, untrained animal, and your window coverings, window screens, couch corners, coffee table legs, and baseboards could all look worse for wear as a result. Scratched flooring, dug-up sections of landscaping, and any damage to your fencing are also giveaways to your pet ownership, and will give your property a neglected, bedraggled appearance.

Every type of pet-related damage must be repaired before you take the steps listed below. 

Clean, Clean, and Clean Again

Whether you’re a pet owner or not, an impeccably clean home is essential to securing the best offers. In fact, we often recommend that sellers hire professional cleaners to assist in the cleaning process. If you plan to remain living in your home until the deal has been closed, you may decide that it’s best to schedule weekly or biweekly cleaning services to prevent any grime from building up. 

Focus on Soft Surfaces

Replacing every bit of carpet in your home may be out of your budget, but a professional rug cleaning with high-tech enzyme treatments will eliminate odors by truly destroying the molecules that bring the stink. 

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter daily to keep dander to a minimum. A buyer’s allergy to your pet could be enough to tank a deal, so do your utmost to ensure that there are no allergens lingering behind. 

Remove Pet Paraphernalia 

Cat trees, dog crates, pet feeding bowls, toys, pet beds, leashes, and pet food are as important to remove as any clutter or personal items any seller would remove. Additionally, items with which your pet has interacted carry the aforementioned risk of causing an allergy attack. 

It’s Showtime!

With the concern about allergens and your pet’s items being removed from the property, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that we recommend homeowners relocate their pets during showings. Whether you hire a pet sitter, ask a neighbor with whom your pet feels comfortable, or board your pet with a professional establishment, you’ll prevent a host of problems by keeping your pet removed from the hubbub. 

While we’ve mentioned the reasons a buyer won’t want to contend with your pet’s presence, it’s equally true that having a host of potentials traipsing through his home during a time of general upheaval is likely to be highly stressful for your pet. All pets are at risk of escaping, and some who escape will remain hidden for some time due to fear. 

Keep in mind that you will not be home during most showings. If your pet absolutely must remain at home, it must be confined somewhere like a basement, locked closet, or outdoor kennel. Again, this solution is not ideal but can be considered as a compromise when no other options remain. 

Cover Your Legal Bases

If you have decided to keep your pet within your home during one or more showings, it is your responsibility to make sure your real estate agent knows where your pet is and what physical boundaries must be respected to ensure successful confinement. 

Furthermore, your realtor must explicitly tell everyone who enters your home that they must not touch your pet under any circumstances. Even a pet that is usually gentle and well-socialized could react fearfully at times like these, the fallout of which could affect both your pet and the people involved terribly. 

The Takeaway

Selling one’s home will be complicated and stressful whether or not pets are involved. However, as a pet owner, your process will require a few extra steps. Trust your real estate agent’s guidance about whether or not an aspect of your home needs to be addressed before sale. They aren’t judging you or your beloved pet; rather, they are dedicated to securing you an offer that matches your home’s full current value.