Pets and Potential Buyers ~ Without A Trace

Entering a home for a showing and being confronted by a set of barking dogs is enough to make some potential buyers not enter the home at all. Similarly, the sight of a clump of cat hair on the sofa can sour some potential buyers as they try to envision themselves in your property. They won’t think you are a bad person or a bad pet owner, but they will come away from a real estate showing with a bad taste in their mouth due in large part to your pet’s effect.

Your job is to remove any trace of your pet’s stay in the home, starting with the clutter that can sometimes come from pet toys and food dishes. A cage is fine and a tidy area where a pet spends most of his or her time will not harm a showing, but having a stray dog bone here and a messy food dish there can distract a buyer from the beautiful breakfast nook you keep or the immaculate counter top you just cleaned. Home stagers recommend not letting your pet become a part of the home evaluation equation.

Does an Open House Sell The Home?

If you are a real estate agent then an open house is a prospecting tool rather then a way to sell the home they are showing. There are many reputable real estate agents that won’t host their own property’s open house. They opt for a newer agent to take on the job.

It is common for a listing agent to pass the job on to someone else even though they could be there if they wanted to be and keep all of the commission. They are offering half of their commission if the hosting agent sells the home. Real estate agents don’t feel that an open house is how a home is commonly sold to someone so this act isn’t considered high risk...[more Real Estate Open House]

Related resources for open house selling: Selling Preparation Perfect Listing Price Showing Beyond The Basics Curb Appeal