Pets are good for our hearts; they love us no matter what. They continue to love us even when we sell their home out from under them.  Some people are afraid of pets…they don’t even call them pets, they refer to them as animals! Marketing your home with your pets in residence is challenging and requires you take some steps to mitigate the impact of your pet on the potential new owners.

1. Do not put photos online showing your cat asleep on the bed or on the kitchen counter.

2. Clean and seal up pet doors. Don’t leave hair and mud around the opening, and polish up or replace the plastic flaps. Wash the entry rugs from the mud room, and clean up all signs of dogs coming in from a romp in the park.

3. Put away food and water bowls when not in use. During the marketing time, don’t allow your pets unlimited access to the food bowl, especially if you are feeding wet food or table scraps.

4. Vacuum religiously every day, even twice a day. And dust. Use an allergen diminishing dust polish. Roll your furniture to remove pet hair. Never leave any sign of pets on the kitchen counters. Put the toilet seat down; no dog drinking from the toilet.

5. Pick up all pet toys and put them away. This includes greenies, balls, pig ears, catnip balls, catnip mice.

6. Pack up and remove cat trees and other signs of cat paraphernalia ( you know who you are) and old dog beds…..refresh with a new cover and new stuffing at the very least.

7. Remove photos of pets from refrigerator, walls and table tops.

8. Pack up all cages, carriers and other tell tale signs. Store these in immaculate condition in the garage or storage space off site.

9. Never let your pets run loose during a showing. Cats and dogs need to be kenneled or taken out of the house. You are selling their home, and their behavior to strangers looking into all their spaces can cause some unexpected behavior.