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Keep Pets and Guests Safe During Home Showings

While preparing to sell your home, you’ve purged, organized and cleaned. All of your attention and focus has been directed toward creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for your potential buyers, but aren’t you forgetting something?

keep pets and guests safe during house showing

What are you going to do with your pet?

If at all possible, it is a best practice to remove your pets from your home when there is a showing scheduled.  When prospective buyers are viewing your property, the goal is that they should be able to picture themselves living there. This is the reason why your Agent will probably suggest you remove your personal items, such as photographs, when your home goes on the market. It goes without saying that pets should also be considered in this category and, if at all possible, you should remove them from the home during showings as well.

If you are not available to take your pet for a car ride, or perhaps a trip to the dog park, try to prearrange for a close family member or friend to stop by and take your pet with them throughout your showing. Just make sure that the person you are asking to assist you is someone who feels comfortable around your pet.

keep pets and guests safe during house showing

If your pet is a cat, keep a pet carrier handy. Maybe your cat typically hides when you have guests, but you can’t be 100% sure that they won’t decide to wait by the door and make a dash outside when a showing takes place. Please remember that the people viewing your home are not responsible for caring for your pets.

When you have advance notice of a showing, you will have more options for pet care. Another idea would be kenneling your pet for the day, or even a few hours if necessary. There are also pet care companies that will come to your home and take them for a walk if kenneling isn’t an option.

Keeping your pets and guests safe should be your main priority. Uncomfortable situations can be avoided with a little planning.  Remember that your pet may be frightened that someone is in the home without you being present. There have been many incidents where a docile pet has become territorial and even bites or scratches someone that they perceive to be a stranger in the home.

keep pets and guests safe during house showing

As a last resort, place your pet in a kennel or pet carrier inside the home during a home showing. This is not an ideal solution, but it will allow both your pet and guests to stay safe and secure. Please refrain from shutting the pet in a room and placing a sign on the door stating “DO NOT OPEN-Pet Inside”. This might turn buyers away. Every space in your home should be available for viewing during a showing.

Remember that if potential buyers don’t feel comfortable in your home, they will not give it serious consideration to purchase. If you make every effort to keep your guests and pets safe and happy, you will be much more likely to sell your home in a shorter period of time.

For more information on getting your home ready to sell, check out How to Get Your Home Show-Ready.

Want more advice about all things home — including homebuying or selling advice? Nestiny is a great place for homebuyer education and to help you gauge how ready you are to buy a home. Journey Homeward allows you to enter all your wants and needs while the True Affordability Tool will break down your budget, showing what you can comfortably afford. You will also receive a Ready Report that will give you a vital head start in the home buying journey, saving you valuable time and money.


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