SELLING YOUR HOME WITH YOUR PETS IN IT
Selling your home can be difficult by itself, but when you throw pets in the mix, things can get very complicated very quickly. Suddenly, you have to pay extra attention to the staging and presentation of your home. According to U.S. News, it is not uncommon for potential buyers to turn down a home just because pets lived there. After all, pets can do a number on the house. Sound like a lot of extra work? Well, it can be. Extra work is probably the last thing you want to do while you’re researching and buying your next home.
STAGE YOUR HOME PROBABLY TO MAXIMIZE SALE PRICE
However, it is extremely important to stage your house correctly if you wish to sell your home for the maximum price. In Edgewater, Maryland the median listing price is $470,000. But, without proper staging, you could sell your home well below this price and not get the full value out of your house! Staging a house with pets doesn’t have to be hard and complicated, though. Follow our four tips for staging a home to get the most out of staging your home with pets.
Remove Pet Odors
This might be an obvious step, but is very important if you want to sell your house for top dollar. It is not uncommon for pet owners to become immune to the odors that pets produce, but the second a potential buyer smells cat urine wafting from the litter box, you’ve just lost a sale. Cleaning up and removing pet odors doesn’t have to be hard, though. First, wash or remove any obvious source of pet odor. Your canine’s smelly, tattered bed? That’s going to have to go. Then, introduce a cover-up scent to mask any lingering odors. Candles and oil burners seem to work best since they emit an odor continuously over a long period.
Get Rid of Obvious Pet Damage
Even the most well-behaved pet is bound to leave a mark or two on your home. From stains on the carpet to scratches on the wall, any damage caused by your pet will clue in potential buyers to your furry family member, and might make them fear the potential of further damage that they aren’t seeing. Cleaning up and repairing the damage is an absolute must when it comes to staging your home. Old pet stains are harder to remove, but will come out with the right equipment and technique. You might have to repaint walls if extensive damage has been done, and some owners might even have to buy new drywall. Have a neutral party walk through your house and point out any damage. Then, make a plan to repair it.
Clean, Clean, Clean
If your pet is still living there while you’re staging the home, it is important to clean up after them every day, and especially before you’re expecting potential buyers. Wads of hair and chewed-up dog toys are not exactly the sorts of things a potential buyer wants to see. Vacuum (models that do well at removing pet hair are available for $69.99), pick up their toys, and scoop out the litter box as much as you reasonably can.
Hide Pet Items from View
According to The Balance, even if your home is clean and odor free, any sign that you have a pet might turn off potential buyers. Hiding any pet items from view is important. Shove their bed into a closet, set their food bowl in a cabinet, and remove any pictures of your pets from the walls. You don’t want anyone who comes through that door to know you have an animal, so remove anything that might let them in on the secret.
To Get Top Dollar $$$
Staging any home is important, but extra attention must be given to house staging if you have pets. Pets can be a huge turn-off to potential buyers and might cause you to lose out on offers. If you want to get top dollar for your home, you simply must stage it correctly, especially if you have pets.