What to do with Your Pet During Your Showing

As loveable as our four legged friends are… it’s best to get them, and any trace of them, out of the house for showings and open houses when selling your home. 

Visible personal items, such as animals, can take-away the buyer's ability to visualize the space being their own. It can be distracting for the buyer to have a cat rubbing against its legs, or a puppy jumping on them when trying to tour the home.  Also, many buyers may be deferred by animal scent, hair, dander, and damage around the home.

Ready Your Home

• Before you begin having in-person tours, make note of any pet-related repairs your house needs. This includes fixing anything visibly scratched or chewed on. The last thing you want is your buyer to notice the pet damage in your home more than its selling attributes. 
• If your pets have had any accidents on any carpets in the home, it’s smart to have them professionally cleaned. The urine can sink deep into carpets and leave a scent that you may have become nose-blind to. 
• Do your best to remove stains rather than cover them. If a buyer realizes you are trying to hide pet stains, they may assume you are hiding other things wrong with your home. 
• Remove litter boxes, pet bowls, toys, dog beds, scratching posts, and other pet accessories from sight. This goes for other animals, too. If you have reptiles, birds, rabbits or any other type of animal- it’s best to make it appear as if they were never living in the home.

Ready Your Yard

Consider making repairs to your yards, too. This is especially important if your dog likes to dig holes in your yard, or runs along the fence wearing it down. Make sure the landscaping is pristine when buyer’s attend your showings as it is the first thing they will see, and you don’t get a second chance as a first impression.

The Day of Your Showing

If you and your pet are living in your home while hosting showings, you’ll need a room-by-room plan to quickly remove all traces of your pet before each tour. Here are some helpful strategies:

• Vacuum twice a day to reduce pet dander (which can affect people with pet allergies). Showings may occur abruptly, so you want to make sure your home is relatively clean at all times. Spot vacuum when needed immediately before buyers arrive.
• Use scent diffusers and sprays to best reduce the smell of animals.
• Lint roll or vacuum all fabric furniture, and wipe all countertops and tables to remove pet hair.
• Keep your pet accessories organized and in one place for quick removal. For example, keep your pet toys all in a basket you can grab on your way out. This way you can drop the pet bowl, leash, etc. in the same basket. Cages work great to store all pet items, too.
• Plan ahead for your pet care during the showings. Options include dropping your animal at a pet hotel, arranging family or friends to temporarily watch your animal, or plan where you can go with your pet during the time of the showing. If you have a dog, taking them on a long walk and putting their cage and accessories in your car is an easy option. 
• If you have caged animals that cannot be removed (like large fish aquariums) make sure the cage and/or tank is clean and free of any off-putting smells.