Taking your dog out in San Diego
By Medina James
Buying or selling a home when you have dogs can be tricky; you want to ensure they stay safe
and happy while making sure sellers and potential buyers are also comfortable, and that can be
difficult. Looking for a new home can be a lengthy, drawn-out process, and if you’re like many pet-owners, your dog is probably like another family member. You want him to be part of things to help keep anxiety at bay, yet it’s important to keep in mind that real estate deals are delicate things. Sometimes, it’s best to go about it without your pet by your side. Making sure he’s well-mannered will keep everyone safe while you’re both looking for a new home and selling your current one, so training your pet–or brushing up on his obedience skills–is a great way to get started. You should also consider ways to stage your homes to make sure it’s ready for potential buyers to walk through without having to worry about pet odors or messes.
Read on for more tips on how to prepare your dog–and your home–for a real estate transaction.
Work on training
Even if your dog is very well-behaved, he may still benefit from brushing up on his training. It can be extremely helpful to make sure your dog is comfortable with commands like “sit”, “heel”, and “down” or “stay”, especially if you plan on being home when your real estate agent brings potential buyers over. You don’t have to pay a trainer big bucks to help your pet go over these commands, either; fortunately you can teach your dog simple training techniques at home.
Leave him at home
If you’re the kind of person who brings your dog everywhere, reconsider when you’re looking for a new home. Attending open houses or walking through a home you’re interested in can be made much more complicated when your pet is with you, especially if the owners have allergies, have pets of their own who might not get along with your dog, or have young children who are afraid of dogs. Whether you come across an open house while you’re already out with your dog or you’ve made an appointment to see a home, have a friend stay with your pet or just leave him at home.
Prepare your house
It can be difficult to ensure your dog will mind his manners when new people are over, especially if he’s already nervous or prone to anxiety. It might be a good idea to let him rest inside a kennel, hang out in the backyard, or stay with a friend when you know potential buyers will be coming over. Keeping your pet isolated from the strangers who are walking through his home will help him stay calm and keep everyone safe and happy.
Keeping your house clean and inviting for clients is another issue, and it can be difficult to do when you have a pet. Dog hair, footprints, and issues like torn mini-blinds and worn carpeting can all be overlooked when you see them everyday, so walk through your home with the eyes of a potential buyer to see what it really looks like. Open the windows for the benefit of natural light and look for any issues. If your dog is allowed on the furniture, throw an old sheet or blanket over it and take it off just before the clients arrive in order to keep it looking nice.
Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you’re prepared and are willing to help your pet be the best version of himself he can be, your real estate transaction will go smoothly.
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