Selling? What to do with Fido!!!

The majority of homeowners today have dogs, and as a professional home stager, I get asked all the time if this is a problem when selling a home. The answer is yes.

Most sellers crate their dogs for showings, but this may not be the ideal solution. If the dog is barking the entire time the buyers are in the house, it will not be a pleasant experience, and may be too distracting for the buyers to give your home the attention they should. In order to test whether your dog will bark, ask your agent to come over when you are not home. Quite often, your dog does not behave the same as when you are present. Leaving the dog loose in the home, even if it is as non-threatening as can be, will still turn off buyers who have a fear of dogs. Or, if you have a particularly cute and friendly dog, they could very well upstage your home, when it comes to the attention it is given by buyers.

Another option some sellers choose is to put the dog in a laundry room or garage. This is limiting the buyers access to areas they have a right to see, and will want to see. Many times the size of the garage is a determining factor on whether a home will work or not. It is crucial that buyers have free access to all areas of your home, including the backyard. If you have a pen or kennel outside where your dog will be safe and secure, and buyers will not be fearful, this is an acceptable solution. It is not recommended that you chain or tie your dog up, as this could create a negative response from buyers.

The most desirable solution is to remove the dog from the home during the time of showings. There are different ways of doing this. If you are home during the day, you could take the dog for a walk or put him/her in the car and leave for the duration of the showing. If you are away at work, you might look into daycare for your dog, either at a reputable professional daycare facility, or perhaps a friend or family member could watch Fido. Another option is to find someone in your neighborhood, who would be willing to take your dog during showings.

Even if you wind up paying for someone to care for your dog, it will be well worth it, to allow buyers to have a pleasant experience viewing your home.