It’s no secret that pets can get in the way of selling a property. As much as Brits love having furry and scaly companions around their homes, their odours and damages aren’t quite as endearing.
Although selling with a pet comes with challenges, it’s possible to achieve a great sale through preparation and care. Here are some tips to help you and your pet along the way.
Staying with friends or family
If the option is available to have your pet stay with a friend or family member during the selling process, you might be able to save yourself a lot of time and stress.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your property requires a significant amount of time and dedication. Having your pet take a short holiday elsewhere could be a good solution to this, but there are some aspects to consider.
You should only assign the responsibility to a person your pets know and feel comfortable with, and vice versa. Additionally, your pet will need to acclimatise to living in a new environment. Unfortunately, this could cause a lot of stress for the animal.
Get advice from your vet
Selling your home can be a lengthy and stressful process. It’s therefore imperative to keep in mind that your pet has its own stresses that need addressing. Having prospective buyers in the property during viewings and transitioning to a new environment can cause extreme levels of stress for some pets.
Your vet will be able to help you draw up a plan that works best for your pet’s individual needs. This is a particularly important step if your pet is older and unlikely to adjust well to changes.
What to do during viewings
Some pet owners may not need temporary relocation if their pet is easy to clean up after. Instead, you can simply keep the pet away during viewings and bring them home when the buyers have left.
Ideally, buyers prefer to visit a vacant home with an estate agent. As a result, removing yourself and your pets from the property could increase your chances of selling.
If your pets are often at home while you’re out, this will create a tricky situation for your agent, and you could be putting your pet at risk of accidentally fleeing the property. Furthermore, even a friendly pet can become territorial and aggressive when strangers enter the home without your presence, so it’s advisable to never leave a pet in this situation; the risk is simply not worth it.
If removing your pet from the property is not a viable option, it’s important to let your estate agent know as soon as possible so you can decide on a good plan of action.
Repairing pet damage
Pet damage, odours, and stains can turn off even buyers who have beloved pets of their own. Cats and dogs in particular are renowned for wreaking havoc in expensive areas of the home, such as carpeting, flooring, doors, walls, gardens, and fencing. Start repairing any damage your pets have left behind before listing your home. The repairs may be expensive initially, but they are an investment in the overall value of the property.
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