Showing Your Calgary Home if You Own Pets

The process of listing / Showing your Calgary Home and keeping it meticulous can be overwhelming for anyone, never mind those with furry four-legged family members. Sudden changes in routine, the chaos of packing and boxes, and an unfamiliar environment or strangers can be stressful on pets, which can add more stress to the owner.

As much as most people love animals, when it comes time to look at a home, potential buyers are looking for extreme cleanliness. The cleaner a house appears, the more value a buyer sees in the home, assuming maintenance and upkeep have had just as much attention. So it is important to remove as much evidence of your pets as possible.

Smells, shedding fur, and muddy paws are just some of the extra upkeep involved with owning a pet, especially during the wet seasons. Be prepared to schedule a lot more time for house cleaning while your home is listed, or allow costs in your budget for a regular house cleaning service while you are showing your home. Being prepared for last-minute showings is important, so keeping on top of cleaning is a must.

Here are some great tips for pet owners when it comes time to show your home:

Keep the Yard Immaculate

Curb appeal is the first impression your house makes! If your dog has spent his leisure time digging up the yard or gardens, be sure to replace pieces of missing grass, as well as trampled or dug up flowers in the garden. This also means cleaning up after your pet immediately after they relieve themselves outside. This will prevent unpleasant backyard smells which would otherwise have potential home buyers wrinkle their noses.

Keep the Vacuum Ready

As much as we love our four-legged friends and their soft, fluffy fur to snuggle into, pets tend to leave a trail of themselves wherever they go. Make a point of sweeping floors and vacuuming carpets throughout the day as to prevent a build up of excessive fur on your floors and furniture. Brush your pets more often, especially if it is spring and summer time, a common time for dogs to shed excessively.

Eliminate any Smells and Stains

Smells are commonly linked to memories and emotions. Bad smells are a major turn-off to any potential buyer and may be the only thing they remember about a house. As much as pets may melt our hearts, they do come with smells that can resonate on furniture, carpet, and pet bedding. Bathing your pet will help, as well as washing floors and their bedding more often. Litterboxes should be kept on top of. Choose a litter that comes with a deodorizer to work against lingering odours. Do you have carpet? Ensure you check for any stains or odor spots. Ammonia odors from cats, or urine from dogs can turn a good showing sour. Take a look at highly rated carpet cleaning solutions or hire a highly rated professional to clean the spots away!

Fix any Damage Caused by Pets

Take a look at any places that pet damage may have occurred. Chewed bannisters/spindles, chewed flooring or wires are some examples. These should all bee repaired or replaced before you start showing your home. Potential homebuyers will only see dollar signs on items that need to be fixed or replaced. Checking these small things will prevent buyer wondering what other damage there is that they can’t see. Use a throw blanket to cover any damage on couches or chairs to give it a homey feel. Clean windows allow more natural light in and help sell houses, so be sure to remove pet smudges!

Scheduled Showings are Ideal

Generally, real estate agents are to give the seller a fair warning before a showing. But sometimes last-minute showings are requested. It is up to you as the seller to agree to the showing or to request more notice. Although it is not advised to turn down any showings, most clients will understand a pet friendly home.
You can also request certain days for showings to your real estate agent in order to accommodate scheduled pet care.

Remove Pets from the House During Showings

Dogs and cats can be unpredictable when it comes to strangers in the home. The last thing a potential buyer wants is an attack from an angry or upset pet. While some may consider leaving the pet in the house in a kennel during the showing, it is not recommended. Whining noises or growls can distract potential buyers as they tour the home, trying to envision themselves in it.
Things you can do would be a walk, dog parks or doggy daycare! Having them do stimulating activities may help calm the nerves of our furry ones. This will also help prevent any accidental escapes of your pet as doors are open and closed during showings.

The best thing you can do for your pets is to be prepared when it comes time to sell. Ask friends and family members with pets who have moved for any advice. Who knows, maybe one of them may kindly offer their home as a safe place during open houses and showings!