Selling your home and moving to a new one can be one of the most exciting events in your life. As you eagerly get ready to shine up the place for potential buyers, however, don’t forget about your beloved pet in the process.
Pets that live in houses and flats get attached to their space over time, so leaving the home they grew accustomed to might end up causing anxiety symptoms in your little friend. On the other hand, not all buyers have pets themselves, so you’ll probably want to clean up your home and show how it would look for the people who will move in after you.
If you want to make a sale while being respectful to both the interested parties and your pet, here is all you need to know.
Addressing your pet’s needs
When the time comes to put your home up for sale, your pet will need to get used to frequent visits from your potential buyers and realtors. Even if your little friend loves when you have guests over, they might feel a bit overwhelmed around this time.
Additionally, you’ll need to factor in that not all people feel comfortable around house pets, especially when they’re about to buy their future home. This is why it would probably be best to arrange visits when your pet is spending time outside. You can even ask some of your friends or family members to take care of your pet while your home is open for visits.
For as long as this transition period lasts, your pet needs to feel safe and loved. Your attention and positive energy can make this experience great for them, so be patient and extra gentle in the time before and after you move.
Addressing potential buyers’ needs
No matter how much you love it the way it is, when you are about to sell your home, you need to make it look easily adaptable to the needs of its new inhabitants. They should feel the space as their own, so if they can envision how it would look when they move in, you are on the right track.
Explicit signs that show your visitors that a pet has been living there might be a turn-off for some people, so here is what you can do to make your home appealing even for the buyers who don’t have any pets of their own.
Step 1: Repair any damages your pet has made
According to the experience of an easy essay writer and a proud owner of two Siamese cats, Fiona Evans, trying to sell a home before taking care of your scratched wooden staircase and shredded curtains is far from a good idea. Make sure to repair any damages your pet has made in the past if you want your potential buyers to love your home and feel great in it.
Step 2: Remove pet hair, odors, and stains
Even if your pets are well-behaved and there’s no visible damage to the property, the signs are still there for the ones who look for them. Help your visitors and realtors check out the place without bumping into traces of your pet everywhere they turn. This is what you need to do.
- Remove pet hair using a wet rubber glove, a sticky roller, or a wet fine-tooth comb;
- Clean and hide litter boxes and food pans and deodorize the place;
- Take time to thoroughly remove stains caused by your pets before you let anyone in.
After you’re done, make sure that your back or front yard is tidy and representative, with no pet toys or waste lying around for everyone to see.
Step 3: Put away other subtle signs of your pet
Now that you’ve done most of the work, it’s time for the final finishing touches. Remove the photographs of your pet sitting on a sofa or poking its cute little nose in the fridge: It may look sweet to you, but it might be a red flag for potential home buyers. Put away toys, bedding, food, and pet carriers and store them safely at a place where they won’t be seen, preferably at a friend’s or neighbor’s house.
Conclusion
Moving to a new place is a big event for people and pets alike. As you are about to leave your old home, your pet should feel that this turn of events, no matter how drastic, still changes nothing between you, and that your new home is going to be just as great, cozy, and fun place as the one they got accustomed to.
As for the potential buyers, they surely want to see a bright, clean, comfortable place where they will happily spend years to come. Follow the pieces of advice given above, and you’ll make this happen in no time.
This article was contributed by Eric Anderson, Devoted writer, journalist, and professional blogger.
