Pets can really make a house a home and we Brits are a nation of animal lovers, with 59% of UK homes having at least one pet. But when it comes to selling and showing your property, minimising the presence of pets could help widen the appeal of your home.
Regardless of how much we might adore our furry and feathered friends, pets in the home won’t always endear everyone.
Some people have allergies and coming into contact with certain animals means they can suffer allergic reactions ranging from the merely pesky, like sneezing and sore eyes, through to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
As well as allergies, some people may have phobias or fears of particular animals. It may come as no surprise that a fair few will have phobias of certain reptiles, but some less common phobias exist which means even something as innocent as a hamster or rabbit could trigger an adverse response.
Of course, your pets are part of your family and you wouldn’t hide your kids in a cupboard or in the garden, and we’re not suggesting you do the same with any of your pets, but it does make sense to be mindful of that fact that not everyone is going to be happy to come face to face with a snake in a Vivarium or noisy, yappy dog.
Be mindful of pet odour
When we have pets it can be easy to stop noticing the smells of those pets. Whilst cats are generally very clean for example, a litter tray left for a day or two, or freshly used, will have a pungent odour that will be immediately noticeable upon entering a property, particularly to someone who may not have cats.
Likewise, dogs tend to have an unmistakable odour and even a freshly bathed dog, can still have a pong that owners tend to stop noticing, but someone entering your home for the first time might be more easily able to detect.
Whilst pet smells are usually relatively minor, any unpleasant smells can be extremely off-putting, with stronger smells making it downright unpleasant to spend any time trapped indoors with the whiff.
Give your home good regular airings to combat pet smells. Ensure litter trays, cages etc. are all spotlessly clean and recently changed and give them the once-over before viewers arrive to ensure you can take appropriate action if your pet has taken the opportunity to use them recently.
Clean pet bedding/cages etc.
Pet smells can easily become trapped in their bedding or on their favourite cushions or blankets on the sofa. Ensure everything is freshly laundered before showing your property and if it’s something that can’t be washed, then hang it on the washing line to air.
Failing that, a fabric freshener could do the job, but do be aware, that you want to avoid simply masking smells, especially with anything synthetic and removing smells is usually the most effective solution.
Be aware of potential allergies
Asking a potential buyer outright about allergies is a great way to show that you’re thoughtful and giving a viewer the heads up also means there won’t be any unwelcome shocks they face as they view your property.
If you find out that viewers have an allergy to cat hair, problems can usually be avoided if they take an antihistamine before viewing, but failing that, keeping your pets out of the same room that they are in, for example, temporarily housing them safely in just one room so they aren’t milling around the house, or letting the cats out for a wee while could be a good idea.
Clean up mess
Although cats will usually stick to using a litter tray, dogs will prefer the garden, so make sure you go around your garden to double-check and ensure all dog mess has been removed.
Clean around the area where your pets sleep and eat as skirting boards and the floor can get messy around these points and also ensure any scuffs that your pets might have caused, for example at the bottom of doors, are cleaned prior to showing your property.
If you’re planning on moving soon, you can get the conveyancing process started here or why not take a look at our tips on moving with pets, here.