If you are a homeowner looking to sell your house, you would be wise to showcase your home as a place that is ideal for families with pets. With 6 out of 10 families owning one or more pets in the United States, finding the ideal pet friendly home is a priority for many families. Whether you count yourself amongst the number of pet-owning families or not, you can’t help but realize that marketing your house as a great place for pets gives you an added advantage over other competitors in the market. If you own pets yourself, you likely already know the pet-friendly amenities your house has to offer. But in today’s real estate world, that simply isn’t enough to set your home apart from all the rest. You need the help of a pet-friendly real estate agent.
Why Hire a Pet Friendly Real Estate Agent?
They know what features to emphasize in your home.
Let’s face it; pet owners think a little differently than their non- dog/cat/hamster/fish-owning contemporaries. Truth be told, they’re looking for something a little different from a home too. They walk into your custom-designed kitchen and assume your perfectly fitted dog door is a construction error that needs to be repaired. This is why you need a pet-friendly real estate agent. A real estate agent who understands the pet-friendly home market will be able to walk around your home and take an inventory of things that can be highlighted to potential buyers who are searching for a home best-suited to life with pets. They can help you accentuate the positives and can even provide helpful insights into minor improvements you can make that will lead to maximum return.
They know what things need to be minimized.
While homeowners proudly display photos of their pets and are so accustomed to their cat/dog paraphernalia that they hardly notice it, a pet friendly real estate agent knows that prospective buyers want to envision themselves in your house and not you. This type of agent can inventory room by room what changes need to be made to emphasize the best your home has to offer while minimizing things like dog bowls, excessive dog toys, and any stains or residual odors.
Nothing will kill a sale faster than a home that smells like pets live there. Your pet friendly real estate agent will have solutions to help get and keep your home smelling like a rose.
They understand pet owners and their needs.
It has been said that it takes one to know one. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to pet friendly real estate agents. Let’s face it; any real estate agent knows how to stage a house to make it look its most attractive. But unless you live with a pet, it’s hard to look at a blank canvas and see the hidden potential for changes that can be made to make a house a home for Fido and his family too. Often, a home only requires minor tweaks to achieve maximum impact. But it takes the mind of a pet-minded professional to bring out the best in your home and lead you to the right buyer.
What Can a Pet Friendly Real Estate Agent Do for You?
It always pays to consult a professional. When you are seeking to hire someone to do a job for you, you want someone who knows what they are doing. You need someone who gets results. When it comes to selling your home, you need someone on your team that shares the same values and experiences. After all, it’s your hard-earned money on the line.
A pet friendly real estate agent will make suggestions as to things you can do that emphasize your home’s suitability for life with pets. Room by room, they will assess then recommend steps that can be taken to emphasize your home’s potential.
Here is a list of some things a pet friendly real estate agent may suggest you implement in the each of the following rooms:
Bedroom
A little touch such as a dog bed at the foot of the bed or an exceptionally soft and comfy rug placed in a strategic location help pet owners to envision their pets relaxing in the bedroom area. One of most pet owners’ top concerns is where their beloved animals will sleep. With more and more pet owners choosing to allow their pets to sleep in their bedrooms, knowing how much space they have to work with will be a great help to them.
Yard
A fully fenced yard is a major selling feature for pet-owning families. If you add in a sand or gravel potty area, you’ve just increased your home’s value exponentially. Keeping your yard looking pristine is something that potential homeowners will really pay attention to. A pet friendly real estate agent will recommend that you consider boarding your pets elsewhere during showings to help keep your yard in tiptop shape while you are still holding open houses.
Living room
One of the first things your pet friendly real estate agent will advise you to do is clean up all toys and down size on them dramatically. It may even be best to eliminate them altogether. Crates should also be stored in the basement or out of sight. You want the space to look as free from debris and pet paraphernalia as possible.
Care must also be taken to remove anything that has suffered pet “damage.” Any items that are showing wear and tear from teeth, nails, or other pet-related issues should be repaired or retired. Items that are stained should be properly cleaned or replaced.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one area of a home that sees a lot of traffic and is home to many pet-related items that aren’t necessarily pleasing to the eye. Items like litter boxes, food bowls, etc, should be removed or at least kept out of sight. People are aware these items are necessary in a home with pets, but they don’t want to be reminded of them when they are considering purchasing your home.
Yes, hiring a pet friendly real estate agent can be one of the smartest decisions you will ever make. With a few simple tweaks and the right marketing approach, your home can become someone else’s haven in no time at all!
