March 15, 2021
In Northern Colorado, we love our pets. They run, walk, hike, camp, and even kayak with us! But when it comes time to sell, there are numerous “pet issues” that can make the process a bit more challenging. Here are some practical steps you can take to make it easier – for you and for Rover!
Owning a pet is an immense responsibility, and taking great care of them while keeping your home in good shape adds an extra layer of complexity, especially when it’s time to list and sell. To help make your property’s time on the market as quick and easy as possible, take a look at these 6 tips for Northern Colorado home sellers who have pets.
Though it’s not rocket science, hopefully, you will find these reminders helpful when it’s time to sell!
1. Consult the Pet Professional
The very first step before doing anything else is to discuss the circumstances of your home sale and pet situation with your veterinarian.
The vet will carefully consider any health issues that your pet has exhibited in the past, consider the stress of the sales environment with strangers in the home, and be able to better guide you through the coming weeks and months to assist you in doing what is best for your pet.
Your vet’s recommendations may range from doing absolutely nothing, all the way to treating anxiety with prescription medication. Often, we see vets recommend something in between those two extremes, but every pet is different. It’s always good to begin with the one who has been your pet’s primary care vet.
2. Clean and Organize
As a pet owner, along with deep cleaning and reorganizing to maximize living space, comes the added chore of doing your best to repair or restore areas of your home that have been met with abuse due to your pet.
In fact, my wife and I absolutely love the three guys you see below. However, they get SO excited at meal and snack time, that I need to refinish the face of the cabinet doors in the laundry room, to remove the “I can’t wait to eat” scratches!
In some instances, dogs enjoy chewing on the corners of cabinets while cats choose to use wood paneling as scratching posts. Some upfront repairs to compensate for your pet’s unique habits will ultimately save you some grief once offers and contingencies start coming into play.
3. Remember the Exterior
Before you call your cleaning all settled and done, do a quick walk around your property to note any problem areas in your landscaping that may have been caused by your pet.
This may include filling in any holes, cleaning up after your pet, replacing plants or shrubs that have been chewed, touching up paint on fences that may have been scratched, and laying fresh sod or mulch to make those spots look good as new. Some pets enjoy chewing the corners of your home’s siding, so be sure to check out those spots as well.
It’s easy for any homeowner to lose sight of what’s going on outside of their house. In our busy schedules, we often walk by those things that need minor touch up and in a sense, develop immunity to them. Though they can be easily overlooked, remembering minor exterior issues is important.
Curb appeal makes that all-important first impression for anyone coming to see your home, as well as those cruising your neighborhood to see what’s available. Taking the time to remember the exterior may make the difference between a truly interested buyer and one who drives right on by.
4. Give Them a Holiday
Some sellers are fortunate enough to be in a position where their pet can live temporarily with friends or family without causing any issues for the pet. If you can swing that during the sales process, you really can’t beat that solution. If your pet is familiar with the friend or family member, all the better. Familiarity helps them settle in much faster, feel less stressed, and readily adapt to their new, short-term resistance.
Having your pet out of the house offers you a lot more flexibility for cleaning, repairs, and showings. It may seem less than ideal to separate yourself from your pet while selling your home, but there’s nothing stopping you from having regular visits with them while keeping your sales potential at its peak.
If nothing else, at least do your best to keep your pet away from the house during showings, open houses, and inspections.
And, best of all in this crazy-hot Northern Colorado market, chances are your home will be on the market a very short time. Once under contract, your cat or dog may return home until the time of closing!
5. Create Their Own Space
If you are one of those Northern Colorado home sellers unable to send your pet elsewhere temporarily, your best bet may be to devote a new area of your home that caters exclusively to your pet.
Try finding a more secluded section of your home that still allows your pet to maneuver around the house outside of showings, but can be used as a comfortable hideaway for your pet once potential buyers are inbound.
This won’t be the best choice for anxious pets that may become aggressive or noisy once strangers are nearby, so remembering your pet’s behaviors will help determine what you feel is the best course of action.
6. Do a Test Showing
The final hurdle entails getting a third party to come into your home and act like they are doing a normal walkthrough. Think of this as a dress-rehearsal of sorts. It’s both an opportunity to gain valuable feedback on the appearance of your home and check out your pet’s reaction to having guests present.
Let them dig through every nook and cranny in order to see how your average homebuyer might uncover any unattended details. Review the results with the third party then do what you can to remedy any issues that may have slipped through the cracks.
Help for Northern Colorado Home Sellers with Pets
If you’re one of the many Northern Colorado home sellers concerned about making the transition smooth for their pets, contact metoday at 970.820.0969! If email is better for you, just reach out at tavery@c3-re.com , or complete the short form below and I will respond back quickly!
Our team at C3 has decades of experience serving sellers who love their pets. We can put together an amazing marketing plan for your home and even accentuate your furry loved one in a manner that is sure to gain attention.
Snow Days!!
With Spring and Easter right around the corner, the last picture today is in honor of the weekend we just endured! Near-record snowfall for most of Northern Colorado simply reinforces the beauty of this amazing place we are blessed to call home!!
