Pet-Friendly Homes are in Demand

It's no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact, many millennial homebuyers are citing their pets as one of the main reasons they want to buy a home! That's why it's important to factor in your pets when you're making a real estate decision—especially when it comes to selling a home in Raleigh.

The truth is, selling a home as "pet-friendly" comes with huge advantages! The majority of Americans say that their pets play a huge role in their housing situation. As longtime Triangle REALTORS, Linda Craft Team Realtors knows how to buy and sell real estate with this unique perspective in mind.

Selling Your Home: The Power of Pets

How to Sell Your Home for More

When it comes to selling a home, you don't necessarily have to hide your pets! While it's important that your home is thoroughly cleaned and decorated for staging, you can actually highlight the "pet-friendly" aspects of your home as a bonus! There is a huge market for pet-friendly homes, and it is one of the biggest draws for the largest market of homebuyers right now: millennials.

Do what you can to point out all the pet-friendly aspects of your home. For example, if you have a fully fenced-in backyard this is a HUGE draw for buyers. Is your home just a stone's throw away from the nearest dog park? How close is your veterinarian? Did you install a "hideagate" for your dog? These are all huge perks that pet owners are specifically looking for in their new home!

Home Selling and Pets: a Guide

68% of American households have a pet and over 99% of pet owners consider their animal to be family. Plus, 81% of Americans say that their pets play a large role in the kind of home they want to buy. Homebuyers who own pets tend to avoid houses on busy roads and prefer homes with fences.

Even if they fall in love with a particular home, if it isn't pet-friendly, they'll quickly move on to one that offers the right amenities for their pets.

The Myth Behind Pets and Selling Your Home

If you've ever sold a home before, you may have heard staging advice that includes "leave no trace of your pet behind! If your home looks like pets have lived there, no one will buy it." That simply isn't true.

In fact, your home is likely to sell for more if it looks like it's pet-friendly! That's because more homeowners than ever are keeping their pets in mind when it comes time to search for a home.

Attracting Buyers to Your Pet-Friendly Home

While buyers are looking for home that are pet-friendly, there are still a number of steps you should take to make your home attractive to both the humans and the pets who will be living there. Here's how to balance your home to get it ready to sell!

Tip 1: Temporarily relocate your pets

This is where it gets tricky. You have to demonstrate how pet-friendly your home is, while still making sure it's an attractive space for the humans involved. This includes getting rid of any and all smells related to your pet. If you have cats, this can be even harder since kitty litter and cat urine tend to smell, well, very strong.

So, if at all possible, consider relocating your pets during the selling process. See if you can send them to a relative's house or consider a trip to a pet boarding facility. At the very least, send them to doggy day care for the day (trust us—they'll have a blast!).

Tip 2: Get rid of the smells

Take a long hard look at (and maybe even a whiff of) your carpets. They may need to be replaced. If you live in a home with hardwood floors, consider how damaged they may be after years of living with your four-legged family members. Could they do with a refresh?

At the very least, you need to make sure your home is professionally deep-cleaned. Afterwards, invite some non-pet-owners over, and see if they can smell any lingering odors.

Tip 3: Consult with your veterinarian

The home selling process can be very stressful for your pets! That's why we highly recommend consulting with your veterinarian to determine the most efficient (and stress-free) method of handling it. At the very least, they may be able to recommend great boarders or doggy day cares in the area.

Tip 4: Tidy up your yard

This is an important part of the selling process, even when you don't have pets. But if you do, it becomes even more crucial. Make sure both your front and back yard is thoroughly cleaned up and landscaped! This will impress potential buyers and make them want to come inside for a tour.

Once You Sell Your Home, It's Time to Move

If moving is hard for you, think about how stressful it must be for your pets! That's why we created a helpful guide with some tips for moving with your pets in mind. Click the button below to learn more.

Get Your Triangle Home Sold

Ready to sell your home for top dollar? Here at Linda Craft Team Realtors, we have the resources and experience needed to get your home sold within your timeline and for the most amount of money possible. Give us a call today to learn more.

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