I love my home — and have a particular soft spot for the cool hardwood floor by the front door — but understand sometimes we all need to move on… The advice in this post is all about helping you understand what you can do to help have a paw-sitive home showing experience, from my perspective.

“ I have been told pets and home sales just don’t mix.”

Our realtor keeps telling my owner to make sure were not around during showings and open houses. To be honest, I am not wild about strangers coming into my home, I get confused and I am still working through the idea of having to move. So please consider making arrangements for me to be out of the home.

Selling Your Home? A Dogs Tail

Here are six more reasons to consider making other arrangements for us, AND help sell our home (sigh) keeping us SAFE and HAPPY-we are family after all.

Bad First Impressions

I’ll begin with a personal tail: If a burglar were to climb through a window in my home, I would likely come over, sit by his feet, and try to play. Yet, my sweet, mild-mannered younger brother Kip gets whipped into a frenzy whenever someone comes to the gate and rings the bell. Chances are if you arrive unannounced with two very interested buyers Kip will go berserk — barking, howling, and yelping. Needless to say, if I was a potential buyer I would not enter the house despite my realtor’s pleas —

Remember, you only have once chance for a first impression.

We Distract Buyers

We are a very personal part of your home, and your goal should be to depersonalize the space prior to sale. You wouldn’t leave your Uncle Frank sitting in a rocker in the living room while buyers wander through the house, so why would you leave us running around? After all, were family members, too! Just as you remove personal photos and mementos, you also should make arrangements for us.

People Have Phobias

The last thing you want is to attract the perfect buyer, one in love with your house, who also happens to be highly fearful of dogs, snakes, or other critters — I personally don’t understand why… In cases like this, if we are still in the home, that perfect buyer may not get much further than the front porch. Any other time, we can rule the roost, but during the critical selling period, be hyper-aware of buyers potential anxieties and aversions — and plan accordingly.

Darn That Dander

We have fur and I refuse to vacuum! Even when we are out we leave behind a reminder. Be mindful of allergy-causing dander by super-cleaning your home from top to bottom — especially the carpets — to remove all traces of hair and dust.

Surprise Showings Happen

Avoid them by insisting that the realtor gives you at least a couple of hours advance notice before a showing so you have time to get us out of the house. Kip can be a real ‘pain in the you know what’.

Lock Us Up — We Are Unhappy

Many sellers will make the mistake of thinking that they can simply lock us up in a bedroom, basement, or garage during a showing. First, this restricts access for potential buyers who can’t see the room that’s on lockdown. Secondly, we will make noise and distract the buyers. (Would you lock Uncle Frank in a room) And most importantly, if the buyer or the realtors decide to take a peek in the off-limits room, we are going to bolt — how dare you lock us up. Now try and catch us…

I want to stay with my owners so I will TRY to be on my best behavior. I can’t make any promises — PLEASE find a way for us to ‘get away’ so everyone can have a paw-sitive home showing experience.