Can man’s best friend also be a seller’s worst enemy?  Unfortunately, yes.  A large part of society enjoys the company of canine friends, but there are those who are terrified of dogs, or dogs they aren’t familiar with.   This can make for some awkward moments when showing homes with unrestrained dogs.  I’ve had several personal experiences where the presence of a dog has squelched a deal.  And in one of those situations, the dogs were next door to the house for sale.  I’ve since come across a solution for scary, barking dogs next door.  

While recently previewing new construction in Circle C, a tiny bird house in the backyard caught my eye.  I asked the sales rep what it was, since it didn’t look like any bird house I’d seen.  The sales rep explained that it was a device that kept the neighbor’s dogs from barking.  Previously when he showed buyers the backyard, they used to hear non-stop barking from the neighbor’s dogs, driving buyers away.  This bird house looking device emits a sound which is unpleasant for the dogs when they bark loudly.  We stepped outside, and heard not a peep from the dogs.  Naturally, the builder asked permission for the device to be used, and the dogs’ owner agreed.  The device is made by Pet Safe.

Besides the fear of dogs, some buyers are really put off by dog or other pet odors.  Like a smoker’s house, the owner is often unaware of the smell.  The owners become accustomed to the smell themselves, in many cases.  For this situation, I recommend a really thorough cleaning, and can recommend a special type of carpet cleaning, too. 

Here are my recommendations when it comes to selling a home with dogs.  The ideal situation is to remove the dog(s) prior to all showings, if you’re able to run home and retrieve them on short notice.  The second best solution is to crate indoor dogs when you know a showing will occur.  A third option is to leave the dog(s) outside, especially if a dog run is available.  In some cases there may be no other option than having a loose dog on the property.  In this case, for a smoother showing, the listing agent should put some instructions to showing agents on the MLS.  

As the owner of two dogs and two cats, I know pets do become a part of the family.  My advice about showing homes with pets comes from my experience having pets, as well as my experience showing homes to buyers who are not so pet friendly.

Vikki Goodwin
REALTOR®, GRI, SRS
EcoBroker®
Homes ATX
512-426-9090 cell
www.vikkigoodwin.com