There are many things to consider when buying a home. Mortgage rates are impacted by a number of things, including the value of the home. This is especially true, if you’re buying it as an investment for your future and will rely on the market value.
One concern is how having pets will affect the property’s value. While you may be an animal lover and look forward to giving a pet a home, you should be aware that pets can impact how potential buyers view your home.
This article is by no means meant to deter you from having a furry best friend, but rather to ensure you’re aware of what you should do if you decide to sell your home.
While we absolutely adore our furry best friends, those in the ‘real estate business’ may look at them as a home depreciation method.
Hide Your Pets for an Appraisal
Pets leave plenty of telltale signs that they live in your home, and even cleaning the carpets and flooring may not be enough.
Pet hair can get into the vents, deep in the fibers of your furniture, and even into the corners of every room. However, boarding your dog or cat at the time of an appraisal can lessen the impact your pet has on the appraiser, especially if the individual is allergic or especially sensitive.
Have your pet go on a playdate, or find a professional pet sitter to help out while your house is getting appraised.
Getting Rid of the Carpets isn’t Always the Answer
Both dogs and cats have accidents, especially when they’re left home alone for hours at a time- and especially if you had your dog or cat when they were babies.
While a good carpet cleaner can pull out most of the stain and odor, the damage to the carpet may be permanent.
One way to avoid this is to replace carpeting with hardwood or tile flooring, though this presents another type of problem.
Untrimmed animal claws will dig into the flooring, leaving scuffs, scratches, and holes.
This type of damage isn’t really avoidable, so be prepared to take a hit on the home’s market value as a result.
Or… another option (which may be a bit more expensive) is to purchase stain-resistant carpeting to place throughout your house when you make your purchase. Then, someday, when you decide to sell, you’ll be able to do a quick shampoo job and have carpet that looks as good as new.
It’s Time to Call a Landscaper
When you do decide to sell your home, you’ll want to call a landscaper to attend to the exterior.
You may do this anyway to help the home’s curb appeal, but ask the landscaper to pay particular attention to the damage caused by the family dog.
In addition to marking their territory, dogs like to dig holes, break fencing, and tear apart smaller shrubs and plants. Left untreated, these factors will bring down the value of your home.
You can ask your landscaper to fix these problems before your house is shown to potential buyers. It’s not usually a huge deal—just some finishing touches to ensure the potential home-buyer is ‘awed’ by the sight of your home upon arrival.
A thorough cleaning is required before showing any home, but this is especially true for homes with pets.
Additionally, many real estate professionals recommend removing pets during showings. Whether prospective buyers adore animals or are afraid of them, your cats and dogs will be an unwelcome distraction.
You may also want to ask your agent if they can detect any odors and what they recommend to eliminate the offensive scents so that the home will feel more welcoming to potential homebuyers.
Training Your Dog Will Reduce the Impact on Your Home
If you would like to train your dog to behave while in the house in order to reduce the damage they may be prone to doing, check out this website for some professional assistance!