Selling A House With Pets At Home

When we have pets, they quickly become a part of our family.  But when it comes to selling your home, potential buyers may not be impressed by the presence of your four-legged family member.  Whether it's due to allergies or a simple case of not being a lover of animals, many buyers shy away from a home with pets.  The good news is that there are strategies you can employ to sell your house without a ruff time.

A Foolproof Solution

If you worry about potential home buyers being scared off by the presence of your pet, find an alternate location for them while you are showing the home.  Perhaps a neighbor, family member or friend could watch your pet for a few hours.  Otherwise, consider boarding your pet temporarily.  Without the discomfort of an unfamiliar animal, buyers will be free to tour your home and envision their own belongings in it without having any distraction.

If All Else Fails . . .

If you cannot find a way to temporarily relocate your pet, place him/her in a pet carrier when buyers are touring your home.  Animals should not remain in this type of unit for more than two hours at a time, but this should give buyers enough time to see the home and ask any questions.  If you have an outdoor kennel or exercise pen, your pet may be satisfied here until the tour is over.  Your main focus is to keep him/her from interfering with the tour and/or disturbing your potential buyer.

What's Left Behind

As every pet parent knows, animals often leave little surprises in some unapproved places.  If you find yourself with carpet stains or pet odors, hire a professional cleaning company.  If this fails, replace the carpet or consider installing hardwood floors.  Buyers will see stains or smell the presence of an animal and may form an early opinion, which isn't likely to be favorable, before even giving your house a chance.  Once your pets are out of the house, remove their litter box or training pad(s) and clean the area thoroughly.

Staging

Many sellers are already aware of this term because staging a house is essential in the real estate business.  If you have pets, remove any photos or other goodies, including toys and furniture, when showing your home.

Picture Perfect  

When you sell a home, your REALTOR® will take photos for the listing.  These images may appear in advertisements and/or on the REALTOR'S® Web site, which means they should represent everything that is wonderful about your home.  Avoid any photos that show your pet, his/her toys or bed.  Buyers are not looking for a pet, but rather a house that they can call home.

Legal Matters

Your local law may require that you inform potential buyers that a pet lives in the home.  Nobody likes to see pet hair on the carpet or see a dirty litter box, but they do have the right to know everything about the house, including any pet presence.

The Process Of Selling Your Home

Once you've made the decision to sell your home, it's time to think about what comes next.  Throughout the process, you may find it beneficial to have a checklist to help guide you in some very important choices that you will be making in the coming months.

Interview Several REALTORS®  

A REALTOR® is a person who you will enlist to help with the selling of your home.  Just like no two homes are alike, no two owners are alike and each has different needs when it comes to real estate.  The REALTOR® that you ultimately choose will have access to your home at any time and will be responsible for marketing it to potential buyers.  As such, you should choose someone that you feel comfortable with and will do the best job for you.  The only way to know which REALTOR® this will be is to speak with more than one, ask plenty of questions and get a feel for how they do business. 

Get An Appraisal

When you list your home for sale, an appraisal will be helpful for a number of reasons.  As the seller, you may wonder why you would need to have your home appraised, but here's why.  As a seller, you do not want to overprice or underprice your home.  If you ask for more than the home is actually worth, lenders won't likely grant a loan even if you find a willing buyer.  If you price your home too low, not only will you be taking away from your own profit, but potential buyers may wonder what's wrong with the home that it's priced so far below market value.

With an appraisal, you can list your home with the knowledge that you need to make sure the price is right.  If you want to advertise the home as a bargain, sell it somewhat below the appraised value.  Buyers will know they are getting instant equity in the home and lenders will see the investment as a good one.

As a final thought to choosing an asking price, note that your REALTOR® will require a commission and possibly other fees in connection with listing your home on the market.  It's perfectly acceptable to ask the REALTOR® for a written summary of these fees, as opposed to just a mention of them in the contract, and how much they will be.  With this information, you will know exactly how much money you will have left in your pocket from the sale of your home.

Decide How Quickly You Want To Sell

Believe it or not, your schedule could greatly impact the listing price.  If you are in a hurry to sell, you may find that a competitive asking price will help you to get the cash you need much quicker.  A price that reflects the higher end of a buyer's budget may take some time to sell, so consider these factors when pricing your home.

Make Time For Updates

Your REALTOR® will offer advice as to what needs updated, repaired or changed in order to maximize the potential of your home.  When a buyer looks at a house, they are looking at the cost, needed repairs or upgrades, decor, etc.  Once your REALTOR® does a walkthrough and explains what, if anything, needs updated, you will commit to an asking price and sign the listing agreement.

Field Offers

As a seller, you are probably already aware that potential buyers will make an offer that could be less than your actual asking price.  Most REALTORS® will tell you that if you ask for 'X' amount of dollars, buyers will probably offer you 'X' amount instead.  That's the name of the game, and you will need to decide whether or not your asking price is firm or negotiable.  If an offer comes your way, you will always have the option of making a counteroffer or simply rejecting the deal altogether.

As a final thought to the negotiation process, keep in mind that buyers typically offer less than they are actually willing to pay initially.  Most offers are time sensitive, which means you may have to make some quick decisions.  Of course, your REALTOR® will be there to guide you through every step of the process and will likely offer an opinion as to whether or not an offer is fair in the current market.

Close The Deal

When the price is right and you agree to the terms, it's time to say goodbye to your former home and hello to a brand new life.  Letting go is not always easy, but moving forward is a part of life.  If you still live in the home, most contracts will require that you move within 30 days.  If you no longer live in the home, most buyers will want to move in immediately.

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

You would never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, so don't invite potential buyers without first making the necessary updates by preparing your home to sell.  If you are like most sellers, you want to get as much as possible for your home and you want to do it as quickly as possible.

Letting Go

After you've lived in a house, it becomes much more than four walls and a ceiling.  It's a home and it has a lot of good memories.  Your first step to preparing your home to sell is to realize that you will take these memories with you wherever you go, but you won't be taking the house.  It can be difficult to let go, but the task will be much easier if you start to think of it as a new beginning rather than an ending.

Cleaning House  

An important part of getting your home ready to sell is in staging the decor for potential buyers.  When you stage a home, you create an environment that is free of any personal items, such as photos and/or anything that stands out as being customized for you or your family.  When a potential buyer walks through your home, they need to envision their belongings and decor without being distracted by yours.  While these items may be special to you, they could possibly prevent the buyer from being able to imagine their own style complimenting the home.

In addition to removing any personal items, make sure that you remove any clutter from the home.  A clean home seems larger and more inviting, whereas a lot of stuff lying around could give the impression that the home is too small or cramped for storage.  Pack up any knickknacks, remove your children's drawings from the refrigerator and clean up your counter space in both the kitchen and bathrooms.

Staging Your Home

Now that your house is clean, it's time to put the finishing touches on the staging process.  A solid, neutral shade in a tablecloth should be selected for the dining room table.  Depending on your decor and wall coloring, a solid white, sand or ivory covering will work well.  In the center of the table, a vase with fresh cut flowers (or silk, if you have allergies) will add a nice accent.  Did you know that the kitchen and bathroom are two of the main selling points to any home?  Keep this in mind when preparing your home for potential buyers.

The living room should have one focal point, whether it be a fireplace or breathtaking view of the outside world.  If you have too many features screaming out at potential buyers, they may feel overwhelmed, so focus on one aspect and make it shine.  If you have a mantle, line it with three candles that match your decor in color.  Place a large candle in the center with one smaller one on each end, which will be reminiscent of a perfectly matched bookend set.  A home with a stunning view should have window dressings that accent the positive, instead of hiding it.  If your furniture has a design of any kind, mask it with a solid slipcover to compliment the flooring or wall color.  Some homeowners also add a fresh coat of paint to their home, which will bring life back into a fading color.  Turn on the lights and open the blinds and draperies to create a bright and inviting environment throughout your home.   

Where To Store Your Stuff   

Now that you know how important it is to remove any clutter and oversized or bulky furniture, you need to know where to put it.  If you already have a new home, you can simply move it there.  Otherwise, you can put it into storage until you are ready to move.  It's important to leave some essentials in your former home for potential buyers to see, such as a dining room table, a sofa and chairs, bed, etc.  Any additional furnishings that seem to interrupt the flow of your home, or make it feel cramped, should be removed.  You do not want potential buyers to feel as though the house is too small.

Details, Details, Details . . .

As a final strategy to prepare your home to sell, make sure that you have any carpet stains removed, windows cleaned, fresh linens placed in the bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.  You would be surprised how many people pay attention to even the smallest of details, so be sure to fix any small repairs that could be a turnoff for buyers.  Last but not least, make sure your home looks just as good on the outside as it does on the inside.  This means that your lawn should be cared for, flower beds must be maintained and any outdoor clutter must be removed.

These quick ideas can be easily implemented and will make your home feel especially desirable to potential buyers.

IMPROVING THE DESIRABILITY OF YOUR HOME

 

 

1.    TOUCH IT UP: A finished, flawless paint job can enormously increase the value and attractiveness of your home!  Spend some time checking the exterior and interior surfaces-as well as fences, banisters, etc.-and touch up any chipped or peeling paint.

  

2.    BAKE, BAKE, BAKE: Research has shown that potential buyers are greatly influenced not only by the appearance of a house, but by its scent as well!  Baking cookies or pastry before an open house or showing will fill your home with a warm, welcoming and comforting aroma that is irresistible to buyers!

  

3.    TOUCH OF COLOR: In addition to providing a delightful and aromatic scent, fresh flowers brighten up your home and appeal to the buyer's sense of aesthetics.  Add a few arrangements in different rooms to add some color and cheer!

  

4.    MIRROR IMAGE: Mirrors have long been used to give the impression of extra spaciousness in a home.  Adding a few mirrors to different areas of the house-including hallways and bonus rooms-will make the house appear roomy and bright.

  

5.            LANDSCAPE LUXURY: Paying special attention to your landscaping is absolutely crucial during the selling process.  Keep your lawn freshly mowed, flower beds free of weeds, and add some additional outdoor lighting to brighten up the pathways.

If you want a house to smell clean, you clean it.  But what can you do to add a special touch that makes your house smell one step beyond clean?  Use some common "scents," a little know how and a lot of creativity to make your house smell fantastic.

Use Your Good Scents

Many homeowners choose to use scented candles in their home.  As the candle burns, the oils melt and create a wonderful smell throughout the entire room.  Not only do these smell great, but certain scents can also be relaxing.  Lavender, for instance, is commonly used in aromatherapy and is believed to be a calming scent.  Vanilla, strawberry, cinnamon and even chocolate are also popular among homeowners who want to add a special touch to their home.

Good Enough To Eat

If you really want to make your home smell terrific, add a bowl of fresh fruit to the dining room table.  Oranges, tangerines and apples will provide a colorful centerpiece and a scent that's simply yummy.

If you like to bake, there's nothing better than the smell of freshly baked cookies fresh out of the oven.  Of course, if you don't feel up to baking every day, you can always use a chocolate scented candle instead.

Make Your Home Blossom

If you really want to add a terrific aroma to your home, place a vase of fresh cut flowers in your living/family room.  A perfectly designed arrangement will act as a wonderful centerpiece, but will also fill the room with a wonderful smell.  Roses are terrific for adding an unmistakable scent to any room, but many other flowers will prove to be just as nice.

Everyone "Nose" Potpourri

A potpourri mixture, which contains dried petals and spices, is typically placed in a bowl and used to add a wonderful scent to any room.  A variety of mixtures are commonly found in any retailer's craft section or anywhere that scented candles are sold.  Potpourri is low maintenance in that it requires nothing more than being placed in a bowl and situated in the room of your choice.

Freshening Up The Air  

These days, air fresheners are everywhere.  Why?  Quite simply, because they work.  Individuals who suffer from allergies may have a difficult time with some scents and/or brands of air fresheners, so be sure to keep this in mind when shopping.  Air fresheners are available in a wide variety of scents and are generally inexpensive, which makes them a nice choice for many homeowners.