Advice to sellers: Remove your pets, and all evidence of your pets, from your home when showing it to potential buyers. This is the advice I give sellers, and when I read Randy's post, I had to share it.
Pets are NOT People
I will try and make this as clear as possible without offending the pet owners of the world. First...I love animals, I would never condone getting rid of your pets. Having said that, some need it pointed out they are not people. They do not help sell houses, whether because they are soooo cute or because they are a bit intimidating. Bottom line is if the buyer is looking at your pets, they are not looking at what you are selling. Your little family member that would never ever hurt no one just growled at my buyers child. End of showing...nice. While you may not notice it, you can smell both dogs and cats and some buyers are offended by the odor. Again, I will not argue whether or not your animals are clean but the only opinion that counts right now is the people who just left your showing because they were offended. It amazes me how sellers will spend days painting trim, shampooing carpets and making repairs but will not remove their pet during a showing. If your pet is truly a family member take it with you on a family walk while I sell your home. In today's market you may only get one shot at a sale, do you want to take a chance on it not happening because you disagree about your pets place in society? It would help your agent a lot to realize your pets are not people and should be removed for showings.
Notice above with either cute or scary pets pets around you are not focusing on the home for sale. Just a thought.
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Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty
107 N. Michigan Suite B
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-5253
randyooo@yahoo.com
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Sharon
Your advise is right on target.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
You are absolutely 100% correct ! Our office had a listing and the owners had a huge growling dog. Every time someone wanted to show the house they would encounter this loud growling dog. Agents and clients would walk through the door and suddenly were greeted with that frightening growling barking dog. All humans would exit the house ASAP. The agent asked the owners to try and remove the dog from the house during showings.
After several months with no offers, the owner was getting aggravated and asked why no offers ? The owners found it inconceivable that people would be offended by their growling family member.
Hey, you want that expired listing ? Go get it !!
Lou: It's hard for some sellers to understand that it is not about their pet, it's about what will help them sell their house.
Peter: I think most agents have a similar story to tell. I walked past 3 piles of dog poop from my car to the front door once and then when I rang the bell, the beast inside jumped at the door and barked like he wanted to kill me.
Sharon, you are so right and the emotion that a seller has when you talk about it can be just as frightening. I listened to a seller telling the listing agent they had to be there when the house showed to take care of 5 (five) yapping dogs. 1st is it possible for the listing agent to be there every time? Would the other Realtor be okay with the listing agent there every time? I don't think I could wander around the property as a buyer even if they were just in the dog run yapping. I could not think about the features as I should be.
Have a wonderful Day
Very good advice, sellers just have to understand that all buyers do not like pets.
I give my sellers the same advice. When we moved two years ago, it took six months to sell our house, and my poor wife had to take the two dogs with her everytime the house was shown. She also gathered up all their toys and dishes and took those with her as well.
When selling, all the home's a stage.....and you never want too many actors starring on it.
Since most people today TREAT their pets like children, it's a tough pill for them to take. Good advice but hard to swallow.
I was amazed at the number of dogs-in-residence at the various homes I showed last week. All but one were "running-about" the homes, barking incessantly as my clients and I TRIED to view these properties. Sellers need to wake up and crate their animals or remove them altogether to allow prospective Buyers an opportunity to view their homes in a relaxed manner.
Sharon- thank you for sharing this. Love the pets, but sellers need to realize that they can be a distraction, good or bad. I hefted my blind Brittany into our SUV for every showing and though it broke my back, it was the best thing for selling the house, for the buyers, and for my beautiful dog.
Hi, Sharon. That's a two-way street...pretty upsetting when you INSTRUCT the listing realtor that indoor cats are not to be let out but with people in your home, opening cupboards and doors, no one is concerned about the well-being of your pets. For pets' sake, it's best for sellers to have them secured before the showing starts.
Sharon, How many times do we need to tell sellers that there pet isn't cute...if the buyer has : A fear, a allergy , or an acute nose.
I love Randys point of, "...If your pet is truly a family member take it with you." AMEN!
Debby: It should not be the listing agents responsibility to take care of the seller's five dogs. The seller should take responsibility for their "babies" and not assume the realtor will do it.
Dan: No matter how much of an animal lover you are, or how many pets you have...the idea of pets living in a house you are considering buying will influence your perception of the house. It's like children...just because you love yours doesn't mean you want to hear someone elses cry.
Gary: Good for you - you took responsibility for your sale. Having gone through it yourself, you now have compassion for your clients with pets and you can tell them you practice what you preach!
Jim: Very well said! I couldn't have put it any better!
Ginger: So true, but how often do you tell sellers it's ok leave the children in the house for showings? You wouldn't leave your baby in the house, and you shouldn't leave your pet "baby" either!
Tom: A dog running around the house, or any evidence of a pet, will only cause the buyers to start thinking about and looking for pet damage...scratched floors and walls, chewed trim, carpet accidents. It's better not to even let them know a pet lives there at all.
Kathy: You did what needed to be done in order to have the best possible showing conditions. Too many people just don't want to be inconvenienced. Selling a house is very inconvenient and the more you are willing to do, the shorter your time will be living that way.
Leslie: You are right, it is very hard on the pets to be put in a position of dealing with strangers all about. It's in their best interest to be removed from the situation all together.
Steve: You are so right...what does cute have to do with it? A cute dog isn't going to help sell the house. All family members should be absent, including the four legged family members.
Connie: Amen is right! You wouldn't leave the baby, and you shouldn't leave the pets.
Sharon.....YES< YES< YES......now if the Seller will just listen,
Dan: If the seller wants the house sold, they should take this advice seriously. We both know, however, that there are those who will not. It's their loss.