Selling a home with pets, whether it’s a condo in Bay Tree or a home at The Meridian Port Aransas, can present some specific challenges that non-pet-owners don’t have to face.
So what can you do to make selling your house easier when you have four-legged (or feathered, or finned) family members?

Selling a House With Pets: Why it’s Tougher Than Selling One When You Don’t Have Pets

Some buyers just aren’t comfortable around animals, whether they’re dogs, cats, or anything else. Seeing a pet in a home can put them off, whether they’re afraid, nervous, or just inexperienced. Some pets are an acquired taste, too; buyers may not want to see a big python curled in a terrarium or a ferret hopping around in its three-story cage.

Do You Have to Send Away Your Pets When You Sell Your Home?

You don’t have to send your pets to stay with your parents or board them at a kennel, although it may be easier to sell your house if you do.
Instead, make sure that no matter what you do, keep all their accessories—from puppy pads to litterboxes—out of sight and spotlessly clean. Nobody wants to open a door and have the smell of a litterbox smack them in the face.
You do have to take your pets out of the house when people are coming to see it, though (well, leave the fish and the bird… but probably not the python). You can’t just put them in another room or the garage and close the door—buyers are there to look at your home, and they’re not going to buy it if they haven’t had a chance to see some parts of it.
You’ll also have to remove the signs that you have a pet, because some buyers just aren’t “animal people.” Put away all the pet toys, food and water bowls, and scratching posts. Pack up your cages and carriers, too.

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling by Julie Woodward
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Moving to a new home can be a difficult transition for everyone in the family, including the furry, four-legged members.

Dogs and cats develop a strong bond with their environment so when they are relocated from their territory it can cause them stress.

Here are some tips to ease your pets’ transition to a new home :

Keep Your Mood Calm
Pets are very tuned-in to your emotions and will sense your mood. If you are stressed throughout the moving process, your cat or dog will pick up on this and it will make him anxious. Try to remain calm and give your pet plenty of attention and reassurance during the process of moving.

Transporting Your Pet
A few weeks before the move, introduce your pet to his pet carrier so that he becomes familiar with it. It will be much less scary for him to be transported in a carrier, which already has recognizable smells and perhaps a favorite chew toy or blanket inside. When you are moving your pets to your new home, it is a good idea not to feed them for about three hours before setting off, as this can help to prevent accidents while in transit.

Upon Arrival
When you get to your new residence, place your pets in one room of the house and provide them with water, food, and a few familiar possessions. Keep them in a closed room while you move things in, as the process of moving boxes and furniture can be chaotic and doors can be left open. Once everything has been moved in, you can take the time to give your pet some one-on-one attention.

Dogs find routines comforting, so try to stick to the same schedule of feeding and walking in your new home. Cats will want to explore and rub their scent all over the house to claim it as their territory. A cat might attempt to return to its old home after a move, so keep it indoors for a few weeks at first.

These are just a few ways that you can make moving to a new home a better experience for your beloved pets. If you’d like more suggestions for helping your pets and family adjust to a move, call or email me with your questions.

Filed under: Around The Home by Julie Woodward
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