Pets Ruling the Roost?

Pet lovers, be warned – some people in the world don’t share your passion for your dog, cat, bird, or other furry friend. It shouldn’t deter from the showing process, however, unless there’s evidence of abuse such as damage or odors. To make matters worse, this can be a sensitive issue for a real estate agent to talk to their sellers about.
Worse Than Its Bite - Even though he is just doing his job, Fido’s bark will sound ferocious to anyone knocking at the door. For security reasons, this may be a great deterrent. But when your home is on the market, real estate agents will bring several strangers to your door. Rightfully so, agents are concerned about the unpredictability of dogs they don't know. When they hear a barking dog, they may not be willing to enter the house unless the owner is at home or they were prepared ahead of time that the pet is confined in a cage or a specific area of the house. Talk with your real estate agent about the best way to manage your pet while your house is being shown. Your showing instructions should include where your dog will be located, whether they are penned in a cage or room, and any other specific instructions.

Odors - You guessed it - pet smells can turn some people off to the point they can’t look past it to consider your home’s other amenities. If you suspect your home is harboring odors -- whether caused by pets, weather, smoke, etc, take action by eliminating the source of the odor rather than merely treating the effects. Smells have a powerful effect on the way people react to a house, and no amount of room freshener or vanilla on the light bulbs can mask a serious odor problem. In fact, such remedies have been found to draw attention to the problem. We have seen nice homes with odor problems languish unsold on the market for months or sell for significantly less than other homes in the neighborhood.Hopefully the relationship you have with your agent is strong enough that they can speak candidly with you about your home. If you are concerned about anything that may be adversely affecting the marketing of your home, ask your agent outright. Sometimes in an effort to keep the selling atmosphere positive and uplifting, an agent will hesitate to drop bad news on a seller who really needs to take action in order to get their home sold. Your agent should be able to offer some constructive suggestions, and perhaps refer you to a professional who can help banish odors from your home!

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