In a recent study by the PDSA it was found that 49% of UK adults own a pet with the split between cats and dogs almost 50/50. This means there is an estimated population of 11.1 million pet cats and 8.9 million dogs! So the chance of buying a property which has been occupied by a pet is quite high.
While many people are very fond of animals, not every prospective buyer is going to love your furry friend as much as you do.
Selling a house which has a pet in residence can have its challenges but we’ve put together some useful tips to maximise the benefits your pet brings to your home and minimise the negative aspects of pet ownership.
Embrace the positives
There are a number of positive impacts your pet can have on your property and prospective buyers’ viewings.
A pet can really make a house feel like a home. You can use photographs of your pet to draw attention to the features you want to show off in your home. If your pet is well-behaved it can be nice for them to be present during visits. A friendly well-behaved and well-groomed pet will stick in the minds of prospective buyers. However if you have a whole pack of dogs, it might be worthwhile arranging them to be out on a walk so as not to distract from the viewing process.
Remove the Negatives
Repair any damage. Your pets might like to ruck the carpet or scratch the walls and furniture. Try and hide or repair any damage to keep your home looking clean and tidy. Have your carpets professionally cleaned to remove any stains or odours. Pet odours can come from deep in the fabrics in your home without you necessarily noticing it. Get an honest friend to pop their head in and tell you if they can smell anything.
Make sure you thoroughly clean the property before each viewing; potential buyers may have allergies and pet smells can be unpleasant – it would be a shame to miss out on a sale simply because of a smell. Tidy up your garden. If you have a dog that spends a lot of time outside make sure there are no chewed toys littering the lawn and clean up any poo. Inside the house, remove litter boxes, food and water bowls.
It is worth mentioning that much of the advice in this article is directed at dog and cat owners and for more exotic pets you might need to use your discretion. If you are a keen lizard/rat/spider breeder it might be worthwhile to rehouse them for a period of time while you are entertaining prospective buyers.
Get in Touch
If you are looking to move house, make sure you take a look at our amazing properties for sale in Virginia Water and the surrounding areas. If you’d like to speak to someone about your property options, a member of our expert team would be happy to help. You can call us on 01344 843000 or email us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
image: Thomas Kelley
