Murfreesboro Real Estate

Buyer Pet Peeves: Your family pet may be a show dog, but it doesn’t mean prospective home buyers will be happy to see him when they look at your home.

Even though Fido might be a bona fide family member (my two miniature poodles certainly are), that fact is that some people simply do no like dogs or other animals.  Or they are simply allergic to animals or fearful of the especially large, loud or jumpy pets.  Discovery of a large, caged “pet” Boa snake may startle Buyers or even cause cancelled showings!

Ideally, pets should be removed from the home during showing appointments.  A pet, even a cat, can be a distraction, and you want to eliminate any distractions when you’re trying to sell your house.  You don’t want a cat rubbing up against someone and leaving them unsettled.

Here’s a true story, I met an Appraiser at a house my Buyer had under contract for purchase.  The Seller advised that their two friendly, large dogs would be on site but “they’ve never bothered anyone”.  You guessed it, the next thing I saw was one of the two dogs taking a bite out of this female appraiser’s foot!  She was unhurt but, needless to say, getting the appraised value to match the sales price was a chore!

If a pet cannot be removed from the premises prior to a showing or an open house, crating the pet may be the next best alternative.  However, some pets may normally be quiet and subdued but when confronted by a “stranger” bark incessantly.  Again. exactly what a Murfreesboro TN Home Seller does not want.

Also, don’t forget to address non visual distractions as well by cleaning up pet toys and bedding, hiding and/or changing a cat litter box and if necessary, by having carpets professionally cleaned.  You may have lost your sensitivity to pet odors that others find truly offensive.

Some Like it HOT (In Winter), Some Like it COLD (Ind Summer), Comfortable is better: Temperature is an important factor when Buyers visit your Middle TN home.  Although it may seem wasteful, you’ll want your heating and cooling systems working to make your house a comfortable temperature for showings.  Not only does it help Buyers to feel comfortable, it’s also a good way to show them that you heat pumps or air conditioning system functions properly.

So, what is the right temperature?  It’s recommended that you set your thermostat to at least 72 degrees in the winter months and to 69 or 70 degrees in the summer months.  Even if your house is vacant, don’t forget to control the temperature; you don’t want to be stuck with a weather catastrophe such as mold or frozen pipes.

Stay tuned for future tips for Sellers in “upcoming” Blog articles.