I am a bigtime dog lover.
I have two hairy golden retrievers who are doing some serious wear and tear on my home. They eaven ATE the molding in my kitchen.
It begs the question- how much does a dog, cat, bird...cost in hard cold real estate depreciation?
Not only do they add to the dirt and dust factor, they tend to have an odor- that once a home is placed up for sale may be detrimental to the bottom line.
Why am I writing about this?
I am going to put my home on the market this Spring. And with 2 dogs and a cat, I don't want to be in DENIAL about it.
Potential buyers might not like your pets as much as you do. (ouch did I say that outloud?)
Here are some suggestions if you are considering selling a pet occupied home:
- Choose boundaries for your pets in the home, don't give them free reign ( a few comfy rooms to destroy)
- Have your home professionally cleaned while on the market (weekly)
- Keep cat boxes EMPTY and fresh
- Don't mask odors- get RID of them
- Ask a trusted friend to TELL YOU THE TRUTH about whether or not you have pet odors, and where.
- Have pets regularly groomed, brushed and bathed.
- REMOVE the pets during showings if you have any question about their behaviors
- Include a carpet cleaning as a given part of your exit plan
Here are some pictures of my well loved pets!
SUNNY
TOBY (and Colin)
CALLIE
So, just a friendly reminder that Pets are GREAT... But they do have their issues that come along with them.
Especially when a home is for sale, use extra caution and care so it doesn't co$t you too much on the bottom line!
BethAnn Long ~ Spokane Realtor
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson South Inc.
...there's no place like your home!
