{"id":2976,"date":"2022-05-31T05:04:42","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T12:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2976"},"modified":"2022-06-06T13:42:03","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T20:42:03","slug":"sell-house-with-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/sell-house-with-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Sell a House with Pets: How to Prep, Deodorize, and Depersonalize"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the United States, 90.5 million, or 70 percent of households<\/a> include a pet \u2014 a 20 percent increase since 1988. And over 90 percent of Americans<\/a> say their pets are family members to them. But when you are selling your house, don\u2019t interpret these statistics as an indication that potential buyers won\u2019t mind the evidence of your pet in the house. The fact is, when a potential buyer is checking out a house, they want to envision themselves and their family living in the house. That means you need to depersonalize<\/a> as much as possible when you sell a house with pets.<\/p>\n

Even if the buyer is a pet owner and lover like you, \u201cthey don\u2019t love your dog, they love their own <\/i>dog, so you want to remove all the evidence, just like you do of the family,\u201d says top-selling real estate agent<\/a> John Gluch<\/a>, who sells homes 74% faster than the average Phoenix agent, and is well-versed in the ins and outs of how to sell a house with pets.<\/p>\n

Having pets around can lead to a number of concerns that could turn off a buyer, from odors to noise disturbances<\/a> to a chewed-up railing. Here is some well-researched advice and solutions to the most common issues that come up when you sell a house with pets.<\/p>\n

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Prepare your house prior to listing<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a no-brainer that you want your home to be clean and damage-free when buyers come for a showing. Having pets around often requires an even deeper clean<\/a>, and there may be certain things you have become immune to that other people would notice right away, like the pet hair on the couch<\/a>, certain odors, and scratches on the floor. When you are selling a home with pets, here are some steps you can take to prepare your house:<\/p>\n

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Deodorize<\/h3>\n

According to Gluch, \u201cpeople have such a strong aversion to bad smells, so I would say the number one thing for [pet owners] to sort out is smell.\u201d To get rid of odors the right way, you\u2019ve got to get rid of them at the source \u2014 air fresheners and scented candles will only mask the odor. First, remove any litter boxes or potty pads, and clean out any cages, fish tanks and bedding your pets use that cannot be removed from the house.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a wise idea to replace your home\u2019s HVAC filters. To improve air quality<\/a>, use a HEPA air purifier, such as the Honeywell HPA300<\/a>. To get odors out of your couch and curtains when selling a home with pets, enzyme cleaners are your best bet. Nature\u2019s Miracle Pet Stain & Odor Remover for Dogs<\/a> and Angry Orange Odor Eliminator<\/a> are some effective enzyme cleaners to try.<\/p>\n

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Be allergy-conscious<\/h3>\n

Getting rid of pet hair and dander is a must when prepping your house for a showing. Not only will potential buyers be more drawn to a clean, neat place, but pet allergies are very common, particularly with cats<\/a>. Itchy eyes and respiratory issues are surefire ways to turn off a potential buyer from your house during a showing.<\/p>\n

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Vacuum like there\u2019s no tomorrow<\/h3>\n

To start, get out the vacuum, and all those handy attachments that come with it. This will help you suck the pet hair up from hard-to-reach places like the stairs, banister, baseboards and crevices in the furniture. For those stubborn pieces of hair that won\u2019t come up with the vacuum, it may be worth using a lint brush to remove them. Evercare<\/a> is a manufacturer of quality lint brushes. Also, to ensure your home is pet dander, fur and saliva free, dust all surfaces, and use furniture polish where needed. After that, wash any couch cushions or pillows.<\/p>\n

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Steam clean the carpets<\/h3>\n

Now it\u2019s time to shampoo the carpets, to get rid of any pet-induced stains or odors. If you don\u2019t already have a carpet shampooer, you can either buy or borrow one with Rent a Rug Doctor<\/a>, or hire a professional carpet cleaning service such as ChemDry<\/a> or Maids<\/a>. In the worst case scenario, your carpets or flooring are so badly stained or damaged that you need to replace them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Assess your outdoor space<\/h3>\n

Of course, when getting ready to sell a house with pets, your yard may also need attention. Did Fido leave a couple messes that need to be cleaned up? Maybe it\u2019s time to put that pooper scooper into action, otherwise the mess will wind up on the shoe of the next would-be owner of your home. If you don\u2019t own a pooper scooper, such as the So Phresh Rake and Scoop Set<\/a>, grab a plastic bag and get rid of any deposits in the backyard. Or maybe your dog likes to dig holes and trample bushes, which can also put a damper on the mood of buyers. If this is the case, it\u2019s time to do some planting<\/a>. If you don\u2019t have a green thumb, hire a landscaper to render your backyard good as new.<\/p>\n

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Repair house damages<\/h3>\n

When trying to sell a house with pets, the last thing you want to do is give off the vibe that you haven\u2019t been on point with the upkeep of the home\u2019s features<\/a>. With pets, some common maintenance issues in the home are claw and chew marks and fading paint from the pet rubbing against walls or doors. Carefully assess<\/a> any damage, even with furniture that may be staying in the home during showings. If there are chew marks on the table or tears in the couches, either repair, replace or move them out of eyesight from buyers. Here are some other common damages that need to be addressed when selling a home with pets:<\/p>\n