Bathurst Blog

How much is that doggie in the window?

They may be mans best friend, but when it comes to selling your home, the love you have for your treasured pooch may just be a hindrance. Happy go lucky dogs may make you think wistfully about throwing the ball outside - but to your buyer they could be seen as a barrier between them and looking around your home. Not everyone is Dr Doolittle, and it certainly rings true at selling time.

When it comes to pets being indoors its important to try and see past their adorable traits and start scouting out for the undesirable ones…

For those pets lucky enough to live inside, a scented candle might be a nice touch to rectify any pet odour for when potential buyers are around. If your pet is the couch king, make sure you remove all pet hair from your furniture and carpet. When it comes time for opens, moving pet beds and bowls out of sight is a great way to create a cleaner and less cluttered feel to your home.

Back yards can be a big selling point in a home, but if your pets have been landscaping the lawns, then that might spell disaster. This is a classic case of first impressions count. Holes, worn tracks, chew toys and waste spotted throughout a yard can draw some serious negatives from your buyer. The good news here is that with a little prep work, you can achieve a yard that would make Don Burke proud. When prepping for your sale, pay attention to dog spots and give your lawn the TLC it needs to regrow. Going hand in hand with perfect lawn presentation is picking up after your pets in the yard. A simple run around to clear the clutter and waste can go a long way.

Finally, think carefully about if your pet is friendly towards visitors. Don’t let overly noisy or aggressive pets get between you and your buyer. To you, they may be your little kitten – but to a stranger they are skilled assassin. Keep your pets from being underfoot, and if they are at the property make sure you inform your agent. Having a pet free space may be all you need for a buyer to take that next step.

Any creature great or small has the potential to influence your sale. Dogs, cats, birds, fish right down to the humble hermit crab – make sure they’re as well presented as your home and you can’t go wrong.