Rory, Alfie, and Charlie Scarpati
You’ve lived in your home for what seems like forever. You know every nook and cranny, every creak and shadow, every angle of light according to the time of day. You know the most comfy places to sit, and to nap. The sounds of play, and the scents of dinner. When to sit near a window, and when to curl up near a heat source. You know just about everyone who comes in and out of your home, family schedules and guests, and when there’s a new person, of course they do their best to get on your good side. They better, unless they want to be chased away, right?
Suddenly, one day, things change, and it’s a surprise. The furniture has been moved around and things don’t feel as comfortable. If you sit on the couch and make a dent, you get yelled at. Maybe you’re not even allowed on the couch anymore. And the rug, if you walk or run on it and it moves, you get yelled at again. Your best friends, stuffed of course, are put away in a box, not scattered around at easy reach the way you like them. That big noisy thing is being pushed around the floor more, getting in your way. Plus people’s schedules have changed, they are home at different times and sometimes there are strangers stomping about, looking at all your stuff, even opening doors to closets and basements, places you’re not allowed to go. These people don’t even try to win your approval, either. They might say hi when they walk in, if they feel like it, then they ignore you. Sometimes they just give you a dirty look. In your very own home! You suspect they’re all trying to see past you, as if they are imagining you are not even there.
Imagine how stressed you would be in this situation. Now, imagine your pet. While us humans cannot know for sure, this might be similar to what he or she experiences when your home is on the market. It is, after all, their home too. So it’s important to keep them in mind, and make the new activity as safe and fun for them as possible.
How do you do this? From the very start, make it clear to your real estate agent that your pets are a priority. You want them indicated in the agent remarks of your MLS listings and considered during showings. Try to have a family member home whenever possible during showings, to make sure your pets are kept calm, away from the new folks, and far from open doors. If this is not possible, make sure you have enough notice to secure them in a room or a crate, with enough water, pads, and whatever else they need. And make sure the showing agent knows that room or area is off limits. When you come home to them after a showing, be sure to give them extra attention, treats, and play, so they associate such stressful events with happiness and good things after. If the weather is nice and you have a dog, take him for a long walk if you can while your home is being shown. Or, perhaps it’s time for a trip to the groomer. During inspections, definitely relocate or comfortably crate your pet during those hours, as the inspector and buyers will need to be in and out of rooms and crevices, potentially multiple times.
Keep an eye on your pet’s eating, drinking, and bathroom habits while your home is on the market. If anything changes, consult your vet right away. And really, try to keep this time as short as possible, for them and for you. Price your home right, make it appealing, and get it sold. Because then you have a whole new adventure in store for them – the new house! To come, in a future post.
For more tips, as always feel free to contact me.
