Selling Your Own Home - Pet Issues
By Raynor James, Fri Dec 9th

If you are selling you own home, you need to consider the effectof pets. People who are working with a real estate broker aresure to get coached about the potential negative effect of pets.If you aren't working with a broker, this article discusses thepet issue.

When You Show Your Home

If you are selling you own home, you must realize a lovable petmight cause the following



problems:

1. The potential buyer may be so nervous about dogs that shedoesn't picture herself living in the home,

2. The potential buyer doesn't like pets and thus doesn't seeher furniture in the home in her mind's eye,

3. She doesn't picture the route she'd drive to and from work,and doesn't imagine where she'd stop for errands or fun alongthe way home.

In short, the presence of pets makes it difficult for thepotential buyer to see the house as their own. Is a potentialbuyer in that frame of mind likely to buy that home? No.

Defense Against Pet Damage

If you have pets and you're selling your home as a FSBO, takeheed. Board your pet or pets while your property is on themarket. You can visit it, and take it for walks and to the park,but don't take it home. Have carpets shampooed. If they'rereally holding odors, you might even replace all or some of thecarpet. Get any damage the pet has done repaired. Store or getrid of furniture you do not want to repair. Reseed the lawn andrepair any damage to plantings. You'll find this is money andlabor well spent.

Pets are an integral part of many people's lives and rightly so.While you may love your pet, keep in mind potential buyers maynot.

About the author:Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing FSBOhomes For Sale By Owner. Visit our "sell my home" page athttp://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your homefor free for one month. Visithttp://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale byowner.

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