Part of making the sale in any real estate transaction is catering to your buyer’s lifestyle and resulting demands. Agents often consider the commute, school zones, and other amenities as selling points, but they overlook pets. You shouldn’t underestimate the significant role of the family pet, and the lengths that pet owners will go to make their pets feel comfortable. When it comes to selling property, any accommodations in that arena could bump the listing higher on the list for pet owners.
Below are some tips we’ve gathered for you to consider next time you’ve got a pet-loving client.
Sell the location
It’s likely that you know the schools zones. But for couples that treat their pets like kids, that may not be relevant. When showing a home, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got an understanding of the following:
- Know where you can walk your pet.
- Know the nearest veterinarian.
- Know the distance to a park or even a dog park.
Sell the culture
Pet owners are comforted by other pet-friendly places. It doesn’t hurt to mention anything you may know about the status of the neighbor’s pets. It is also important to know the local ordinances for keeping pets on a leash, and also the neighborhood rules for animal waste. Remove any question marks for pet owners as it relates to daily life with their pet in that neighborhood.
Invite their pet
This may seem like overkill. But to a pet owner, anything short of having their pet tour the home could seem absurd. If nothing else, they will be comforted by the suggestion.
Stage it for pets
Juliet Johnson of www.julietjohnsonstaging.com in Essex County, New Jersey suggests sellers start by hanging a leash or two on a coat rack by the back door and placing a large jar of dog biscuits on the kitchen counter-top. “Set an inexpensive dog bed at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom or in the family room, and be sure to put a dog or cat magazine on the coffee table,” she adds. Angela Warren, a real estate consultant with RE/MAX Allegiance in Alexandria County, Virginia notes that buyers are often impressed when sellers visibly show their love for their pets, so post pictures of the family dogs and cats along with a list of local pet shops, activities, and dog parks on the refrigerator.
Consider pet specific amenities
“Hands down, the best pet-friendly investment is to install an electric, invisible fence around the perimeter of your yard or a wooden fence around the property, while the newest thing is to put a pet bath in the laundry room or garage,” says Sandy Nettles, a Realtor with AgentOwned Preferred Realty in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
