By PawSheets Guest Blogger: Jessica Brody
Pets are members of the family -- so much so that it’s easy to forget that not everyone feels that way about your furry friend. In fact, when putting your house on the market, letting potential buyers know you have a pet can be a significant problem.
YOUR PETS WILL COST YOU
Pet ownership can have a potentially major impact when selling a home. After years of living with your pet, you have become accustomed to the scratched floors, odors, or stains on the carpet. But those are the exact sorts of flags potential buyers will be on the lookout for.
To help get a better idea of how to price your home and what buyers are looking for, check out other houses for sale in your area. Homes in Kinnelon sell for a median price of $650K, and proper staging will help you get the most value out of your home. Talk to your realtor about how to get top dollar for your home. According to How Stuff Works, leaving evidence of your pets can take up to $30,000 off your home’s value. To make up this difference, focus on hiding all signs of your pets when staging your home.
FOCUS ON THE YARD
Curb appeal goes a long way. Your yard is the first thing buyers will see when coming to view your house. Do a sweep of the front and back of your house to pick up and remove any pet waste, and don’t forget to watch out for grass damaged by urine. Fill any holes your dog might have dug, and remove any pet toys. If you have a deck, do not forget to check for scratches and bite marks and get them repaired.
FIX THE WEAR AND TEAR
Most of the damage your pet has caused you are probably so used to that you do not even notice it anymore. After removing the obvious, such as chewed-up and scratched furniture, ask an unbiased person, either a friend or real estate agent, to conduct a walk-through of your home and point out anything you may have glanced over, like an old carpet stain or scraped floorboards. Any real estate agent will insist that you fix these damages, as they can cost you thousands of dollars.
HIDE EVERY BIT OF EVIDENCE
Even after you’ve repaired every last piece of damage and patched up every hole in the yard, you are not done. Some buyers will be turned off by the mere suggestion of a pet. Be sure to pack up any toys and store their food and water bowls during a showing. Some realtors will even go so far as to tell you to remove any photos of your pet. While this part may feel a bit extreme, there is some logic to it. According to HGTV, potential buyers want to be able to envision themselves living in your home, and they can’t do that if someone’s pet is on display everywhere.
SEND YOUR PET AWAY
When it comes time to finally show off your home, you’ll have to send your pet away. Not everyone reacts well to pets, especially pets that are not their own.
Also, moving can be incredibly stressful for your pet. All the changes to your home and the sudden influx of strangers can be very hard on them. For both their sake and to better sell your home, it’s best to take your pet out of the equation altogether. Do not just lock them up in another room or put them in the backyard -- buyers will want to see those spaces! Instead, see if you can board them (this usually costs $25 - $45 a night) or leave them with a friend or family member for a few days.
PUT IN THE EFFORT
While it may sound like a lot of extra work to put into selling your home, it’s worth it. Investing the time and money into hiding all evidence of your beloved pet can make a huge difference in the value of your home. Properly staging will help you sell your home faster and for more money.
Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash