“Wow, this home is beautiful”, exclaimed Linda. “Hey it looks like I won’t have very much work to do with this yard” commented Tom, “it’s perfect, Keshia, I think you have out done yourself!” This was the initial reaction of Linda and Tom, as I showed them the 4 bedroom, 3 bath pool home. The price was within their budget, so this would be a sure win for the couple. As we entered the home, an unsightly smell burst through the door, and tiny little yelps, screamed from the kitchen. “What is that smell”, asked Tom. “I think its urine” said Linda. Through a clinched smile, I said, “this is something that we can address with the owner, I am sure we can negotiate this issue, let’s just take a look at the home.” Unfortunately, the excited and eager couple, became skeptical and displeased. As we walked over stains in the carpet, and talk through held breath, we tried to acknowledge some of the great points of the home. Never the less, they didn’t buy the home. Having pets are a challenge and although they are the love of our lives, when selling a home they can be a major deterrent.
Some things to consider, most pet lovers understand the challenges of having pets and are very use to some of the smells that go along with turtles, cats, dogs and snakes. But Buyers are not very forgiving, and they often use everything they can to ex your pet adorned home, off of their list. So how do get these buyers that don’t have pets or who may have allergies, to buy your home, in spite of their preconceived notions? Florida Realtor reports;
Most realty professionals agree that the best course of action is for sellers to eliminate the pet presence from their home while it is on the market.
“Sellers need to understand that many people have allergies to pets, and many children have asthma attacks from animals,” says Barbara Cluck-Miksits of BCM Home Staging in North Jersey. “If they do not address this, they are narrowing down the number of potential buyers who would be interested in buying their home.”
She advises sellers to have their carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned – or to simply replace it, if possible, if it is stained and smelly. Since residents may be used to the pet odors, experts recommend having a friend or neighbor perform a “whiff test.” It is also advisable to vacuum every day as well as to put away pet toys, beds, dishes, and other evidence of an animal in the home.
If homeowners can’t place their pet with friends or family while the house is on the market, then it is best to at least move the animal to an area of the home that is more removed from the rest of the house.
The number 1 solution, is to relocate the pets while your home is on the market
• Let a friend or relative care for Fluffy and Spike.
• Board them at a kennel.
• Send them on vacation.
• Find an area in the home that is removed from the home
Per About.com, Overcoming Negatives Associated with Your Pets works as well. If you shrug off all professional advice and absolutely refuse to move your pets out of the house, then at least minimize the objections and nuisance factors, real or otherwise:
• Cat Litter Boxes & Dog Potty Pads
Keep them out of sight and impeccably clean. Nothing turns off buyers faster than opening the door to the laundry room and being greeted by a full or stinky cat box.
• Carpet & Floor Pet Stains
Hire professionals to remove the stains. Buyers will spot them and form unfavorable opinions about the rest of the house. If the stains can't be removed, then remove the floor covering and replace it.
• Pet Odors and Smells
1. Cat urine is the worst. Without question. The. Worst. Bring in a neighbor to do a whiff test.
2. Do not use air fresheners. People with allergies will react.
3. Try enzyme cleaners such as Simple Solution.
Here is a home remedy for getting rid of urine smell from the carpet:
This is a great recipe for removing cat urine odor from carpet. Start by blotting up as much of the urine as possible with old rags or paper towels. Next mix 3 parts water with one part vinegar and saturate the spot. Dry thoroughly using the same method mentioned above. Once dry, sprinkle the area with Baking Soda. Next mix ¾ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with one tsp. dish detergent and sprinkle over the Baking Soda. Try this first on a small inconspicuous area of the carpet to make sure the hydrogen peroxide won’t discolor your carpet. Next, use your fingers or an old brush to work the Baking Soda in. I’ve used an old hairbrush with little bits of plastic over the tips with good results. Allow this to dry and vacuum it up. If there’s still a slight odor when done, lather, rinse and repeat.
Ultimately, pricing the home right, proper staging and a good marketing plan is a start, but following some of these points can help keep you in the running with your competitors, even with pets.
For more advice on how to show the home with pets please contact me.
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