Selling a home with pets requires some extra care to ensure the home meets buyer standards and that the process does not create undo stress for pets. These tips advise sellers on how to minimize issues during the selling process and keep a home in show-ready condition, even when pets are living in their homes.

Get Advice on Staging and Cleaning

People who live with pets have become accustomed to a certain degree of odors and messes. Even homeowners who generally keep their homes very clean might not notice how dog toys or a crate can create a visually cluttered space for buyers to see. Objective advice is best, preferably from a real estate agent experienced in selling homes with pets. Sellers should create a checklist of items to remove before each showing and cleaning tasks to complete before the home is ready to list.

Set a Routine Schedule

Accommodating buyers is one of the best things a seller can do, but they should be honest about what they can accomplish to prepare the home for showings at certain times of day. Like humans, pets have routines that make their lives more comfortable. Showings that fall within those routines are likely to cause less stress for pets and sellers alike. People who ensure their home is in ideal condition before a showing and add extra time to get their pets ready will be better able to impress buyers from the outset.

Create Safe Rooms for Pets

During the home-selling process, many people designate a few areas of the home as off-limits so they do not have to spend as much time cleaning every room before their real estate agent arrives. For pets, this may disrupt their routines. If pets remain in the home while it is listed for sale, homeowners should designate safe spaces for pets to rest, play, and sleep after each showing. This will create a sense of calm for pets and make it easier to keep off-limits rooms show-ready.

Remove Pets During Showings

Sellers invest a fair amount of time and money into removing evidence of their personal lives from the property, so that buyers can imagine life in a home that is uniquely their own. Pets can interrupt this illusion, creating mess, odors, and even fear for visitors. All pets should be removed from the home for the duration of the showing, if possible. If pets that have a designated living space that cannot be reasonably moved, such as a tank, it should be clean, clutter-free, and fresh-smelling.

Repair Any Pet Damage

Pets can cause serious damage to properties over time. From claw scratches on the door to bite marks on the carpeting, many pets leave homes worse for wear. Pet owners may overlook these small imperfections, but homebuyers do not. 

Replacing worn-out carpet and refinishing scratched wood are ways that homeowners can repair pet damage for buyers. Even in a home with little or no pet-related damage, pets may leave an odor that buyers will notice immediately. Deodorizing carpeting and airing out the home are additional excellent ways to prepare it for showings.

By eliminating pet odors, pet owners can make their home more appealing to non-pet-owner buyers. In fact, making these small changes may even boost a property's value if it's done properly.

Consider Temporary Relocation

Balancing the needs of pets and prospective buyers is a heavy burden for sellers, even for a few weeks. Many experts recommend finding temporary housing for pets while owners sell their home to ensure pets receive appropriate care without constant disruption to their routine. Sellers often find that taking their pets to stay with a family member or friend, a pet sitter, or a kennel removes a lot of their own stress and hassle.

Selling a home with pets is a bit more complicated, but it does not have to be impossible. By taking advantage of their real estate agent's tips and advice, sellers can show their home to buyers and ensure their beloved pets stay healthy and happy.