Selling your home: The pet quandary

We love our fur babies but when you put your house up for sale, it’s no longer about you or them. This is the time to create an environment that gives agents the opportunity to help buyers envision your home as their own. Some of the top complaints from buyers touring a home with pets involve pet hair and litter box odors. Then there are the folks who feel uncomfortable around animals, some are even fearful. Finally, consider the allergy-prone individuals. The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to start wheezing and sneezing while looking at your home.

Since your goal should be to keep the potential buyer in your home as long as possible, you’ll need to “de-pet” the house. Yes, it’s a challenge, but here are several ideas:

1. Avoid the use of air fresheners, scented candles, plug-ins, and incense. Artificial scents are a turn-off to homebuyers. If you must use something, consider an essential oil diffuser and avoid flowery scents. Lemon tops the list of most popular fragrances.

2. Change the HVAC filters in each room of the home and have your carpets professionally cleaned and sanitized.

3. Wash or dry clean drapes, throw rugs, shower curtains, and any fabric items that tend to hold odors.

4. Clean the cat’s litter box regularly and put it outside before showings and be sure there are no pet droppings in the yard.

5. Paint the walls if you can’t seem to get the pet odor out of the house. If the odor is extra strong, consider using an odor-blocking primer as a first coat.

6. What will you do with Fido or Fluffy during showings? If available, ask friends and family members if Fido or Fluffy can spend some time with them. Most of us know someone within a reasonable driving distance who won’t mind lending a hand. Usually, showings only last about 15-20 minutes, consider taking them on errands with you or for a walk while the house is being shown.

7. If you must leave the dog in the home, crate it, and cover the crate with a blanket. Leave a note on the door of the room in which the pet is crated so the buyers and their agents aren’t taken by surprise.

While it’s inconvenient, the selling stage won’t last forever.