We all love our pets. We consider them to be an integral part of our families, and can't imagine our homes without them. When it comes to selling your home, however, you can bet that your furry best-friend is not helping your efforts. 

The fact is that buyers generally make much lower offers on homes where pets live. Depending on where you live, you may be obligated to disclose whether or not animals live in your home, but even so, if you can make it appear as if pets don't live there, you'll likely be better off.

So how do pets undermine the selling of your house, and what can you do about it?

There are multiple reasons why this might be.  A large part of what makes buyers like certain houses more than others is less about the features they have, and more about how the houses make them feel. While this is not necessarily the most rational way to approach home-buying, feelings can nevertheless have a huge influence on buyer's decisions. This means that if there is anything at all about your home that gives people a bad feeling; they probably won't make an offer, and pets can contribute to this.

For starters, let's talk about odours. Some people have extremely developed senses of smell, and if they can detect even the slightest odour left behind from your pet, they WILL be turned off from the get-go. Sometimes people who own pets become accustomed to the odours created by their animals, and don't even notice it, so if you have a pet, ask a few trusted friends if they can smell it. 

If you do have a problem with odours, you need to tackle that head on. Have all the carpets thoroughly cleaned, and vacuum them at least once a day. If your pet uses a litter box, keep is in the most far away, inconspicuous corner possible, and clean it out at least once a day, if not more.

Another concern potential buyers might have when it comes to animals is the possibility of having fleas living in your home. If you do have fleas, it is imperative that you take action to get rid of them quickly, and take measures to keep them from coming back for the duration of the selling process.

Secondly, some people are uncomfortable around animals, whether they have a deep seated fear of dogs, or a simple dislike for cats, these people will not appreciate being greeted by your pet. The last thing you want is your friendly family dog jumping up in excitement to greet potential buyers who will be instantly turned-off. This is why it's imperative that when people are viewing your house, your pets are nowhere to be seen. 

How you keep your pets out of the picture during showings is up to you, but just be sure that what you're doing is not overly stressful for your pet.  Maybe you have an older child that can take your dog for a walk during viewings. If this is the case, make sure you are compensating the child in some way. Can your friendly neighbour babysit your cat for a couple hours? Can you find a place to board your pet?

Last, but not least, you would be wise to do is remove all signs that animals live with you.  Put away food and water bowls, take down pictures, and stow your kitty's scratching post and toys. Vacuum all the time to avoid having even the tiniest bit of cat or dog hair in your home. You should even stow away all evidence that you like animals at all, just to be safe. The dog calendar and cat figurines, for example, have to go.

It's tough to sell a home when you have pets, because this animal that you love so much has begun working against you in your endeavour.  It really is imperative that you take direct action to minimize the effect that your pet might have on potential buyers, but as long as you have a reliable plan of action, and are consistent with it, having a pet will not stop you from selling your home.  

More on Selling your home as an For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

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