There are now 90.5 million pet owners in the United States, or 70% of households. This is a 20% growth from 1988. The majority of pet owners (over 90%) consider their animals to be members of the family. However, you shouldn’t take these numbers as evidence that potential buyers won’t be bothered by your pet’s remnants if you plan on selling your home soon. A serious buyer of a home wants to be able to picture themselves and their family comfortably living there.
There are several reasons why homeowners may struggle to sell a house when they have pets. Here are a few possible explanations:
- Allergies: Many people have allergies or sensitivities to pets like dogs or cats. When potential buyers visit a home with pets, they might experience allergic reactions, which can be uncomfortable and discourage them from considering the property further.
- Odors: Pets can sometimes create odors that linger in a home, particularly if proper cleaning and maintenance routines are not followed. The smell of pets, including urine or dander, can be off-putting to potential buyers who are sensitive to or bothered by such odors.
- Damage: Pets, especially if they are not well-trained, may cause damage to the property. This could include scratched floors, chewed furniture, or stains on carpets. Homebuyers might be concerned about the cost and effort required to repair or replace these items, which could affect their willingness to purchase the home.
Therefore, while trying to sell a home that includes pets, it is essential to remove as many traces of the owners’ personalities as possible. Buyers may be put off by issues like pet odors, noise disruptions, and railings that have been chewed up because of pets. Well-researched recommendations and approaches are provided for resolving the most common concerns that arise during the sale of a home with pets.
Prep
Obviously, you want your house to be spotless and undamaged when potential buyers come to have a look inside. Having pets in the house usually necessitates an extra thorough cleaning, as you may have grown accustomed to the pet hair on the couch, the smell of pet urine, or the scrapes on the floor, but visitors would notice right away. Here are some things you can do to get your house ready to sell if you have pets:
Deodorize
When you want to get rid of an odor for good, you have to get rid of the cause of it rather than just covering it up with something like an air freshener or scented candle. First, take out any litter boxes or toilet training pads and clean any cages, fish tanks, or beds that your pets can’t leave behind.
It’s also a good idea to change the HVAC filters in your home. Use a HEPA air cleaner, like the Honeywell HPA300, to make the air better. Enzyme cleaners are the most effective way to remove pet odors from upholstery and drapes before listing a home with pets.
Allergy-Aware
When getting your house ready to show, you must get rid of pet hair and dander. People will be more interested in a clean and tidy place, and many people are allergic to pets, especially cats. Having itchy eyes or trouble breathing are tried – and – true ways to make a potential buyer not want to buy your house when you show it to them.
Vacuum Regularly
To begin, pull out the vacuum and all of its useful attachments. This will assist you in sucking up pet hair from difficult-to-reach areas such as the stairs, banister, baseboards, and furniture crevices. If there are hairs that won’t come out with the vacuum, you might want to use a lint brush to get them out. Evercare is a company that makes good lint brushes. Also, dust all surfaces and polish furniture where needed to get rid of pet dander, fur, and saliva. Then wash any pillows or couch cushions.
Shampoo Carpets
We must now shampoo the carpets to remove any pet-related stains or odors. If you don’t have a carpet shampooer already, you can hire a professional cleaning service or rent a shampooer at available retailers. In the absolute worst case situation, the carpets or floors in your home have become so badly soiled or damaged that they need to be replaced.
You are not alone in dealing with the challenges of selling a property with pets. Think about working with a real estate agent who has previous expertise assisting pet owners in the successful selling of their homes.