While thousands of men and women with homes for sale in Windermere love their pets, they may want to take a few extra steps before showing their property. Sure, Charlie may be part of the family, but not every buyer cares to see chewed up bones and squeaky toys in the living room. No worries, as long as you clean up properly after your pet, you can still get every penny that your home is worth.
To begin, it may be a good idea to take your dog or cat somewhere else while your property is on the market. Sure, you can always board your animal. But that’s not very nice, and it’ll cost a few bucks. Find a neighbor, a friend, or even a family member where your pet will feel at home. I am sure you have some nieces and nephews who would love to get a new four-legged roommate for a couple of days. Doing so can eliminate all the negative signs of having a pet in your Windermere real estate, including the unpleasant smells from kitty litter. Similarly, every dog owner needs to make sure he or she pooper scoops every inch of the front and backyard. As a direct result, your home’s value may increase significantly. Remember, not every person on the market loves Labrador Retrievers as much as a seller might.
Not only should you get Precious and Marley out of sight while showing a home, you should fix any damage caused by a dog or cat. Pets may be adorable, but they almost always take their toll on a home. Not unlike living with children, having a pet causes floors to get scratched, paint to get chipped. Dogs can also lead to chewed fences throughout your yard. Fixing everything may not be cheap, but it is worth it to increase the overall value of your property. It is can never hurt to get the floors in any home cleaned by a team of professionals. Would you make an offer on a house with pee pee stains? If they are past a point of no return, simply rip them out and replace them with new flooring.
Of course, times are changing. More and more families now live with animals and selling a pet-friendly property can sometimes be a plus. As a result, you do not have to hide the fact that there is a feline or canine sharing your space. No longer is it necessary to take down all family photos with Leia and Pooky. Just make sure to eliminate all scratches, toys, odors, and prizes left in the grass. And let Cosmo visit his Uncle Dave for a few days while strangers are looking at your Windermere luxury home. Can you imagine discussing the neighborhood with a potential buyer while the toy poodle is barking in the background? At the same time, the last thing a seller wants to worry about is being sued because he or she is liable after Cosmo bites somebody.
About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty:
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty serves 19 counties throughout Florida with over 40 locations and approximately 1,800 Sales Professionals. The full-service brokerage company, founded in 1999, is a subsidiary of Lennar Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and is a franchise member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ network, one of the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name. The company offers residential and commercial services as well as seasonal rentals, property management, REO & Foreclosures, corporate relocations, referral services, title, home service plans, and personal concierge services. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty ranks in the Top 10 in the network among 42,000 Sales Professionals, 1,200 offices throughout 47 states. The company is the overall No. 1 fundraiser for The Sunshine Kids Foundation, having generated more than $3.37 million since 2001. Visit www.BHHSFloridaRealty.com.
