After appropriately pricing your property, carrying out the necessary repairs, and successfully advertising your home for sale, you may have been messaged by several potential buyers. You are now excitedly staging your home and inviting these prospective buyers to your property for a showing.
But, what do you do about your beloved pet? Pets are an important part of the family. However, they can be an unpredictable element during a showing.
From my experience in the Regina property market, I, Jennica George, will share with you some tips to help you convince a buyer that your home is the best investment they’ll ever make while also keeping your pets safe and out of the way.
Consider the following:
Get a Sitter
One of the recommended solutions that often work wonders is getting a pet sitter for your property showing. You can hire them for about two days giving you enough time to tidy up after your animal.
If your area has no pet sitters, consider talking with your local kennel. With their experience with dogs and other animals, it should be easy for them to care for your pet for a few days or hours.
Depending on your budget and your pet's needs you can also leave your pets with someone that they are familiar with, like a family member or your neighbor. You just want to ensure that you have time to properly clean the house and conduct the showing without interruptions.
Schedule the Showing
If you only have several potential buyers, you can opt for a scheduled showing over an open house, giving your client an hour or two to get a feel of the property. Scheduling in advance will allow you to make arrangements for your pet or provide the prospective buyers with notice that the pets will be on the premises.
Consult Your Vet
If you have had your pet for a while, you will appreciate how they tune in to your emotions. It is one of the best things about having a pet with you.
During this stressful time of selling your property, your pet may tune in to your stress. This might cause them to be anxious or on guard. Animals also sense changes in their domains as they move their bed and litter boxes from one place to another. This might increase the chances of your pet getting agitated around visitors.
In preparation for a property showing, it could be smart to consult with your vet. They can give you professional advice that will allow you to handle your pet's anxiety better. This will reduce the possibility of accidents or outbursts and also guarantee an easier transition as you move houses.
Remove Stains and Animal Smells
To convince a potential buyer of the allure of your home, you have to tend to even the smallest detail. Pets often mark their spaces, giving your house a unique smell. While you might have gotten used to the smell, not every buyer would appreciate it.
I recommend that you hire the services of a professional cleaning company. They will be able to scour and scrub any pet stains on the carpets, floors, and furniture. Most importantly, a professional cleaner will be able to use the right products that will mask the strong pet odors.
If you don’t have time or the budget to hire a professional cleaner, then you can open to clean the space yourself. After you have handed your pet over to a friend or family member, clean the litter box and the animal’s bed and put them away.
Then you want to give the furniture and walls a gentle scrub and open the windows. If you have an aroma diffuser or nice scented candle you can use those to freshen up the space as well. You’ll also want to vacuum and dust the space thoroughly before prospects arrive.
Conduct Property Renovations and Repairs
Buyers are always particular about one single item, to which there is no compromise, the condition of the property. To make a sale, you must make sure that your home is in the best condition possible.
When you have pets on your property, the damage can come in all forms and sizes. It could be scratched floors and walls, stains on the furniture, carpet and curtain tears, and chewed wires and cables.
It’s often difficult for you as the homeowner to see these issues since you have lived in the property for a long time and have become accustomed to them. If you have seen the need for an unbiased and experienced assessment of the property, I am more than willing to come through and help you assess what needs to be repaired ahead of the showing.
Address the Landscape and Backyard
This is a great concern for most property owners, especially if you are a dog owner. Dogs often use the backyard as their playground and at times dig up the grass or flowerbeds.
It might be time that you put in a few hours of work freshening up the yard and working on the grass. You can also plant some flowers to add a splash of colour to your yards.
Bottom Line
You can appreciate the technicalities and small issues that must be taken into consideration when you are selling off your home. You want to avoid any issues that you turn off a potential buyer. You need an experienced and desiccated realtor who will help you every step of the way. I, Jennica George, can help!
I have helped countless property owners, sellers, and investors in the area. I am also a member of the Saskatchewan Realtors Association. I promise to offer sound and professional advice coupled with quality customer service to help you on your real estate buying or selling journey.
Get in touch with me today and we can discuss your real estate needs over a cut of coffee!
