What to do with pets, if your house is on the market

We meet with sellers every week who have fuzzy family members. We know how special pets are to their owners, and it is important to remember the pets when you get ready to list your house.

If you have dogs, we have a few tips for you that will help make your home easier to show and allow buyers to feel more comfortable in your home:

1. If it is possible to enroll the family dog(s) in day care, while you are at work, do it. A home that doesn't have a furry distraction gets more attention. You want the buyers to fall in love with your house, not your dogs. If they are petting your dog, they aren't looking at your new windows or remodeled kitchen.
2. If day care is not an option while you are away, consider a designated dog area, either inside or outside your home. If you have a doggie door, consider fencing off a small area in the home and a small area outside, so that buyers can view all other areas.
3. If you aren't away from your home for extended periods of time, consider putting your dog in a crate/kennel. The best areas for keeping a kennel/crate are in a laundry room or guest bedroom. These tend to be rooms that buyers don't spend an extended amount of time in.
4. If none of the above suggestions are possible, be available during the day to remove the dog(s) for all scheduled showings.

If you have cats, we have a few tips for you:

1. Clean the litter box every day and keep it in a room with fresh air ventilation. There is nothing worse than the smell of a litter box, when a buyer is walking through your home. If you must keep a litter box in a bathroom, make sure the room has a plug-in or air freshener in it.
2. Try to keep the cat(s) in a designated area of the home. Some buyers get scared when cats jump out from under beds or move from room to room. This will help keep showing distractions to a minimum.

In order to minimize pet odors, consider having your carpets professionally cleaned and keep air fresheners, plug-ins and candles around for quick odor removal. Not every buyer has pets, and some buyers are allergic to pets, so it can be important to keep these tips in mind.