What to do with your pets when showing your home

Most households have at least one pet.  Most common are dogs and cats but birds, hamsters, rabbits, fish, and guinea pigs also make the list.

Let’s start with the big ones first.  If you have a dog it should be removed from the home prior to your showing if possible.  It is acceptable to crate the pooch and put it in a room that does not warrant a lot of traffic like a garage (if it’s not too hot or cold out) or in the basement.  Just make sure that you let the Realtor know that you will be doing this so there are no surprises.  Keeping the dog outside is OK in a pinch but may hamper the ability for buyers to take in the property from the outside.  If you dog is a big barker, it is best to arrange to have it out of the home.  You don’t want it to distract the attention of potential buyers.

Cats are largely fine in the home.  If possible, confine the cat to a secondary room or if it is an indoor/ outdoor cat, let it out (weather permitting, of course).  Many people have cat allergies so make sure you vacuum and sweep up as much hair as possible prior to the showing.  Also, letting the Realtor know about the animal may be helpful so they can mention it to their clients who can then take necessary precautions.

All other animals that are confined to a cage are good to go.    You will want to make sure that their cages are kept really clean and are in good repair.  Buyers who see messy, smelly, or battered cages or aquariums may unconsciously make a negative association about your home.  The same rule applies to litter boxes.