Are you selling a house with pets in it? According to a survey by pet website Pawzy, 57% of Canadian households owned a pet in 2019. We’ll bet that number has gone with all the adoptions that happened while we were in lockdown.

That same survey showed that 95% of us pet owners consider our pets to be part of the family, and rightfully so. Those family members, though, can make it harder for you to sell your house. I’m going to share with you 4 tips that will help you through this if you’re selling a house with pets.

Not everybody loves pets. It’s important not to take it personally. We pet owners feel very strongly about our pets, but there are people amongst those 43% of non-pet-owning households who may not be so keen on your pet. They may have a good reason for it, too, but we’re not here to diagnose that.

The important thing is to be aware that your potential buyers could be amongst those folks and you want to do what you can to minimize the impact your pets have on selling your house so you have a better chance to get the best sale price possible.

Tip 1 – Find a Pet Sitter

The absolute best way to minimize your pet’s impact on selling your house is to find a temporary home for them. If you have a relative or friend who they can stay with for a week or two that’s ideal. In a pinch, boarding may be an option.

This is especially important if they are runners, barkers, or biters.

If you can’t find a temporary home for your pets while you are selling, then be diligent about scheduling showings so you have time to tend to some of the other tips on our list.

Tip 2 – Clean Up the Yard

Have a good look at your backyard and make sure to clean up any dog poop and fill any holes. If you have patches of dead grass, it may be a good idea to get someone in to resod parts of your lawn.

Tip 3 – Get Rid of Smells & Stains

Even animal lovers don’t love the associated smells and stains when looking at a house. If you’re selling a house with pets, spend some time cleaning up odours and stains they leave behind.

• Litter box – get one with a cover, keep it scooped, and hide it somewhere inconspicuous
• Stains on carpets or furniture – get them professionally cleaned if you can, or rent a steam cleaner from the grocery store if you can’t
• Vacuum and clean every day to keep things looking spotless
• Keep your pup’s chew toys tucked away out of site
• Try an essential oils diffuser to cover up persistent smells
• Open a window when you leave to let some fresh air in
• Try restricting your pets to a smaller area of the house to limit the areas you need to clean and make things easier and less stressful for you

Tip 4 – Fix Any Damage

Many dogs and cats like to scratch at baseboards, curtains, floors, or doors, and damage carpets. Before you put your house on the market try to look at it through a buyer’s eyes and fix anything that might catch their eye – in the wrong way.

Carpets are often problem areas when it comes to wear and tear. Try to get them professionally cleaned or even replace them if they’re really bad off.  

If you have tears in furniture find ways to cover that damage up or remove smaller, less essential items.

Some of these fixes can cost you some money. If you get into fixing walls and floors, talk to us about our Property Concierge program where we carry the cost of your renovations until you sell.

Selling a house with pets is a little extra work, but if you follow these tips you can help ensure your pets don’t chase away any potential buyers and risk you getting the best price possible.