Are you house hunting or thinking of putting your home on the market soon?
Finding ways to make your home stand out to potential buyers can make a real difference in increasing the value of your home. Many factors are in play when it comes to valuing a property, which can either lead to a resale gain or loss. As a homeowner, your job is to identify both what can boost your resale value, as well as what can drag your home value down.
When you decide to put your property on the market you first need to make sure that there’s nothing in your house that could negatively impact your property’s market value, which could eventually impede its future sale. Surely, you want potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home. So how do you go about preparing your Houston home for sale with pets?
According to their Pet Ownership Statistics study, there are actually 85 million or 67% of American households include a pet.
Pet ownership varies across states. Texas is one of the top ten states in dog ownership and ranks 29th in the % of pet-owning households by state.
- 58.2% of Texas households own a pet
- 43.4% of Texas households own a dog
- 26.5% of Texas households own a cat
Pets offer many benefits to their owners such as companionship, or health and therapy assistance. Pet ownership is truly emotionally rewarding for the homeowner, but can either attract or repel a buyer’s interest in a property. The presence of pets is rarely an issue to a home that is free from pet odors, waste and hair. However, if there is pet waste around the yard, strong pet odor in the house, scratched walls or floors, or chewed furniture then these can take a costly toll on the time needed to sell the property, as well as its price and value.
Even if your house is staged and you’ve done your best efforts to keep your home clean and presentable during the open house, any potential buyer might still notice pet odors. One major reason is that many homeowners have grown accustomed to their pets that they won’t even notice the odor or the scratches on the furniture only to find out when another person visits the property.
Pet problems that need to be addressed when preparing your home for sale
1. Odor – The number one pet problem that is very obvious, but very difficult to get rid of. Foul pet odors can be anywhere – carpet, furniture, walls. If possible, hire a professional cleaner to remove any unwelcome odor.
2. Stains – Potential buyers will smell and notice stains immediately. Spot treatment sometimes won’t do the trick, so it’s better to replace stained carpets or hire a professional to remove any unwanted stains.
3. Scratches – A home with pets will definitely have a lot more scratches. Hire a professional to check both small and significant scratch damage. Sometimes, light sanding can do the trick but there are times when it is better off replacing.
4. Chewing damage – More often than not, dogs that are not adequately exercised have chewing issues. So, go over your furniture, carpet, and screens to see evidence of chewing. If there is any, you might want to consider storing the furniture or have it replaced.
5. Landscaping damage – Another problem to be on the lookout for is the yard for litter, damaged plants, holes, and chewed fences. Your yard is the first thing buyers will see so, make sure to inspect for dog poop as well to get rid of any stain or foul odor before showing your home.
These signs of pet damage shouldn’t be overlooked as it can annoy even pet-loving homebuyers and significantly chop from a few hundred to a thousand off your home’s value. Fortunately, there are things you can do to address pet damages and thereby market your home for its pre-pet value. If you’re working with a Houston real estate agent, the better since he or she can advise and help properly stage your home.
Preparing your Houston home for sale with pets
Selling your home can be just as stressful for your furry pets. So what can you do to be sure pets don’t negatively impact the sale of your home? Here are some of the most straightforward tips to prepare for selling your home with pets.
1. Clean your yard as this area is just as important to some buyers as the interior of the house.
2. Remove pet odors and stains by having it professionally assessed and cleaned as odor is the one of the many reasons a homebuyer will pass on a house no matter how beautiful staged it is.
3. Repair any damage prior to showing the home. The cost of repair might be high but it’s worth the value your house will get.
4. Temporarily relocate pets during showings and if possible, while the house is on the market. If not, keep them in a separate room or take the pets out for a walk during showings.
Pets are important members of the family and more often than not, their needs come first. Ideally, this circumstance shouldn’t cause a problem and cost their owners when the time comes to sell the house. However, the opposite happens resulting to reduction not just the property’s value but also the nearby property values as well.
Preparing your Houston home for sale with pets may seem like a lot of work when you’re trying to sell a home, but eventually will pay off. To help you get highest sale price for your home, consider working with a Houston realtor. ApexPro real estate agents will help you achieve maximum value on your home sale.
Thinking of selling your home with pets? Talk to an ApexPro realtor for a face-face property valuation today.
About ApexPro Real Estate
ApexPro Real Estate Group is a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in single family and attached residential properties throughout Houston and the surrounding areas. We are a privately-held small business that brings together top agents, cutting-edge technology, and unparalleled service to help clients throughout Houston to buy and sell real estate — and enjoy themselves every step along the way. Our client reviews are exhibits our dedication to help our clients extends beyond the closing table and we would love to earn your business.