What To Do with Pets When Showing Your House

Pets are often a big topic and concern when trying to sell a house. Owners are used to having pets around but that’s not always the best option when selling a house. So what do you do with pets when showing your house?

How Pet Owners Can Prepare for Showings

Before a seller gets to the point of having an actual showing, there are some things pet owners should do to prepare the house to show in the best light possible.

Get your pet groomed and then keep them groomed in order to avoid excess pet hair throughout the house and on the furniture. Brushing daily will help keep shedding to a minimum.

Fill or otherwise repair scratch marks. If you’ve got a cat or dog that’s been a little overactive with their nails on doorways and windowsills, do your best to cover up and fill any scratch marks. I’ve seen doors that have been absolutely destroyed by pets and in that case, it may even be best to replace the door altogether.

Clean tile grout and baseboards. Tile floors may be resistant to pet accidents but the grout in between the tiles is not. Scrub those porous areas that may hold on to stains and smells. Additionally, dust and wash the baseboards where pet hair accumulates.

Get rid of pet odors. Try using an air purifier or odor-absorbing charcoal to remove any pet smells before you begin showing the house. Deep cleaning carpets and furniture and changing furnace filters will also help.

Why Pets Shouldn’t Be Loose When Showing Your House

Having pets loose in the house when showing a home is not the best practice. I’ve hosted open houses for homeowners that have left dogs and cats out and it can lead to worried viewers and awkward conversations. It also can be really unnerving for the animal.

The liability for a homeowner is one of the biggest considerations. You may think your pet is harmless but you can’t guarantee an animal won’t behave differently when strangers are entering the home and an owner isn’t present. A nervous dog can behave unpredictably in situations that aren’t familiar.

Some potential buyers may have a fear or an allergy to animals, stopping a showing the minute they step through the door. You want to present your home in the best light and avoid breaking a potential deal before it even starts.

Seeing an animal in the house also makes buyers more accutely aware of smells. I’ve toured houses with adoring clients until they spotted a cat that suddenly made them sure the house reeked like kitty litter. Those smell concerns can be valid but sometimes it’s the power of suggestion rather than a real problem.

When it comes to pets remaining on the property, cats are sometimes a different story since they often keep their distance but again, any loose animals in the home during showings or open houses is not ideal.

What to Do with Pets When Showing Your House

So what do you do with pets during showings?

If your pet is crate-trained, lock them in the crate and place the crate in a lower traffic area where they won’t be quite as noticeable. Be sure your agent notes it in the private remarks on MLS so buyers aren’t caught off guard during the showing.

I’ve seen homeowners lock dogs up in the garage or a room in the house but this also isn’t ideal since potential buyers want to tour all areas.

If you have a good relationship with neighbors, drop the pet at a neighbor’s house during showings. Or, if the showing is booked for an hour or less, use that time to take the dog for a walk.

In a really hot seller’s market, if you know a weekend will be jam packed with showings, you may even want to consider boarding a pet for a few days.

What to Do with Pet Supplies During Showings

Once you’ve figured out what to do with the animal, it’s also a great idea to put away the animal’s belongings during a showing. Food bowls, chewed up dog toys, leashes, or other reminders of an animal presence are better out of view and out of mind.

The goal when listing and showing a house is to sell as quickly as possible at the best possible price and that may mean short-term sacrifices and effort for long-term gain. Having a plan for pets will help you get to the end goal of selling your house.