🐕 Home Selling Tips for Pet Owners: How to Get Your Home Market-Ready (Fur Babies and All!) 🐈

Selling your home is exciting — but if you’re a pet owner, there are a few extra things to think about before you put that “For Sale” sign in the yard. We love our pets (they’re part of the family!), but not every buyer will feel the same way. The goal is to appeal to as many buyers as possible — and that means minimizing pet distractions.

Here are 5 practical tips to help pet owners get their home ready for the market.

1. Repair Pet Damage

Take a close look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer.

Scratches on doors? Carpet stains? Chewed baseboards? These things might blend into the background for you — but buyers will notice.

Quick fixes to consider:

• Replace damaged carpet or flooring
  
  
• Patch and paint scratched doors or trim
  
  
• Repair torn screens or chewed corners
  
  

A little effort here can go a long way toward making your home feel well cared for.

2. Eliminate Pet Odors 🐾

This might be the most important (and sensitive) tip. Pet smells can instantly turn buyers off, even if they love animals.

Here’s what helps:

• Deep clean carpets and upholstery
  
  
• Wash pet bedding regularly
  
  
• Use an air purifier
  
  
• Avoid heavy air fresheners — aim for clean and neutral, not perfume-heavy
  
  

Sometimes a professional carpet cleaning is worth every penny before showings.

3. Remove Pet Clutter 🐶

When staging your home, less is more.

That includes pet items like:

• Food and water bowls
  
  
• Litter boxes
  
  
• Pet beds
  
  
• Toys
  
  

Before showings, tuck these items away in a designated spot (garage, laundry room, or take them with you if possible). The goal is to help buyers imagine their own pets in the home — not be distracted by yours.

4. Clean Up the Yard 🐕

Curb appeal matters — and so does the backyard!

Make sure your yard is:

• Free of pet waste
  
  
• Grass repaired in “high traffic” pet zones
  
  
• Fencing in good shape
  
  
• Toys, pet bowls, or dog houses tidied up
  
  

Buyers want to see a clean, usable outdoor space.

5. Have a Plan for Showings

This is a big one. Where will your pets go during showings?

Options include:

• Taking them with you (car rides or walks)
  
  
• Asking a friend or family member to pet-sit
  
  
• Using a local doggy daycare
  
  

Leaving pets at home during showings is not ideal — even well-behaved pets can make buyers feel uncomfortable or distracted.

Final Thoughts

Pets bring us so much joy — but when it comes time to sell your home, it’s important to present a clean, neutral space that appeals to every buyer.

With a little planning (and maybe some extra vacuuming), you can create a home that shines — fur babies and all.

Thinking about selling your home in Lodi, Stockton, Galt, or Modesto?

Let’s talk! The Halstead Team is here to guide you through every step — pet-friendly advice included.