Pet-friendly homes attract pet-friendly buyers.
There was a time when selling a home with a pet was a major issue for sellers. Great effort went into masking odors, eliminating stains, putting up food and water bowls, closing doggy doors, removing litter pans, putting toys away, and even finding a place for the pet to stay during showings. Needless to say, it required a lot of extra work on top of the other tasks needed to get the home ready for showing.
In todays market, most of this has changed, and pet-friendly homes are now considered by many to be a benefit.
With 65 percent of households currently having a pet, owning a pet is no longer usually considered a downside when it comes to home buying and selling. However, even though 79 million households have at least one pet, home owners still need to present a clean, pet-stain and odor-free home when listing it for sale.
More than just having pets, an estimated 83 percent of people actually consider the pet a member of the family. This is causing home owners and agents to see pet-friendly homes in a different light.
For Homebuyers
During the initial meeting with an agent, homebuyers should share information about their pets. This allows the agent to see exactly what features they should look for to help make the home not only perfect for their client, but for the clients pets as well.
For example, a buyer with two big dogs will likely appreciate a larger fenced yard over an amenity that offers little by the way of quality of life for the dogs.
This also provides the agent the opportunity to inform homebuyers about potential restrictions placed on pet ownership. For example, if the buyer is looking for a home in an HOA-regulated community, there could be a limit on the size or type of pet allowed.
For Homesellers
Because pet ownership is so common, it makes for a natural selling point when showcasing a pet-friendly home. Aspects such as secure fencing, convenient access to the yard, easy-to-clean floors, and even a pet-friendly town can all be considered added value to a home.
When selling a home with a pet currently in residence, here are some good things for pet owners to keep in mind:
For the safety and well-being of everyone, including your pet, it is best if your pet is either put up safely, or is away from the home during a showing.
Clean up toys, bones, beds, and all other pet-related items.
Thoroughly clean all floors and carpets of dirt and stains.
Eliminate litter boxes until the showing is over.
Make sure the yard is picked up.
An team of real estate professionals who can properly market your pet-friendly home will help you sell your home faster and for more money.
Are you a pet owner who is looking to buy or sell a home this year?
