MAN’s best friend might be a property’s worst enemy when selling your home.
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Australia is a nation of pet lovers, with three in five households owning a pet. Many pet owners don’t realise, however, that a pet’s footprint can negatively influence the sale of a property.
Matt McCann, chief executive of LocalAgentFinder, said selling your house when a pet has called it home for years can be challenging.
“On one hand, a pet is a beloved member of the family and the home is theirs just as much as their owners’,” he said.
“On the other hand, not all buyers will be won over by the knowledge that a pet has lived there.”
1. Temporarily relocate the pet during open for inspections.
2. Rid the property of pet hair and odour. Furry animals will shed, which can be a problem for buyers with allergies.
3. Double check for animal droppings. Animal droppings can also deter buyers – particularly those who are not pet lovers.
4. Repair doggie and moggie damage.
5. Conceal reminders that pets live there. Buyers walk through a home trying to imagine themselves living there so, to ensure the property appeals to a maximum number of potential buyers, vendors might want to conceal any signs of a house pets.
6. Fill the house and garden with greenery. Plants and flowers – such as aloe, ferns, jade, lilies, and ivy - can freshen a home, up the appeal, purify the air inside and make buyers forget about pets. Just remember to remove dangerous or potentially toxic plants or flowers after inspections.
7. Clean your yard. Regardless of whether a pet is known to dig holes or not, it’s a good idea to survey outdoor areas for any holes to prevent prospective buyers from tripping on them.