NEWS

Don’t let pets drive away homebuyers

Ann Hoke
For Williamson

American Pet Products Association’s 2012 national survey revealed that more than 60 percent of U.S. households have a pet. Many sources today estimate that more than 83 million dogs and 98 million cats populate our nation.

You might be surprised by the number of prospective buyers who shy away from homes that are shared with a pet. Even pet lovers can be turned off by the evidence of pets in the home — especially if the pet has damaged the home or left an offensive odor. Readying a home for sale requires an extra effort if pets have roamed free inside the dwelling.

Many home seekers are allergic to our four-legged friends, especially cats. They will know within minutes that an allergen is in the home as their eyes begin to swell and sinuses become irritated.

You can lessen the likelihood of a poor showing by having the carpet professionally cleaned. We often go a step further and use an ionizer to clean the air and remove the odor. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace carpet, padding and even the subflooring to remove dander, hair and other pet remains. It is also important that all pet damage be repaired — especially scratch marks on doors, trim, cabinets and flooring.

There are some positive steps you can follow to prepare your home for showing and improve the likelihood of selling it:

•Make sure that evidence of a pet is not the first thing that a prospective buyer sees when they open the door. Make an effort to store food and pet supplies. Ideally, put away bowls, pet beds and litter boxes during the period when your home is scheduled to show.

•Never leave a pet loose in the home when it is scheduled for a showing. Many problems can be associated with pets roaming while you’re away. No one wants your pet to run out the front or back door when the prospect is entering or leaving your home.

•The best practice is to have a friend or relative care for your pet during a showing. If this is not possible, consider temporarily relocating your pet to an outdoor kennel or fenced area. Securing your pet in a crate in the garage is the next best option, followed by a small bedroom or another semi-private area.

As you think on these things, keep in mind two objectives. You want to protect the safety of your pet and maximize your return on the sale of your home (selling faster and for more money).

Ann Hoke leads the REAL Trends Top 250 real estate team at Ann Hoke & Associates Keller Williams. For more information or comments, contact her at (615) 397-4024 or AskAnn@AnnHoke.com. Each KW office is independently owned and operated.