Selling a house with pets comes with unique challenges. While your furry friend is part of your family, buyers might see them as a problem. Pet hair, odors, and scratches can make a home less appealing. Even pet lovers may hesitate if they notice signs of pet damage or lingering smells. If you want to get the best offer, your home must look and smell fresh. Proper cleaning, repairs, and staging are essential. The goal is to make buyers focus on the house—not your pet. This guide covers everything from home staging tips to pet odor removal and handling showings smoothly. With the right approach, selling a house with pets can be quick and hassle-free.
Prepping Your Home with Pets for the Market
When selling a house with pets, first impressions matter. Buyers want a home that feels fresh, clean, and move-in ready. Even pet lovers don’t want to see fur on the floors or smell lingering odors. A pet-friendly home doesn’t mean a home that looks lived in by pets. It means a well-maintained space where buyers can picture themselves living comfortably. Cleaning, fixing minor damages, and removing pet-related clutter can make a huge difference. Preparing your home properly ensures it attracts serious buyers and sells faster for a better price.
Deep Cleaning for a Fresh Start
Selling a house with pets means giving it a serious scrub down. You might be used to a little fur here and there, but trust me—buyers notice. Even pet owners don’t wanna smell someone else’s animals when touring a house.
You need a deep cleaning for home sale. Start with carpets—get ‘em steam cleaned or, if they’re bad, replace ‘em. Scrub walls and baseboards where pets like to rub. Hardwood floors? Buff out scratches. Even the air needs cleaning—replace those air filters! A deep-cleaned home tells buyers you’ve taken care of your place, making it more inviting.
Get Rid of the Smell From House with Pets—Completely
Even if you don’t smell it, someone else will. Pet odor removal is a deal-breaker. A house that smells like cats, dogs, or anything else furry? It’ll have buyers running for the door.
Step one—air out the house every day. Open windows, let the fresh air do its thing. Next, enzyme cleaners. Regular cleaners just mask the smell, but enzyme ones break it down. Wash pet bedding. Clean the litter box twice a day, at least. If your dog has accidents, consider replacing old carpets. The goal? Make the house smell like it’s never had a pet in it.
Fix Up Any Pet Damage
Pets are cute, but they can be rough on a house. Buyers will notice the scratches, stains, and chewed-up stuff. If you want a good offer, you gotta fix those things before listing.
Look around. Floors scratched up? Buff ‘em. Baseboards got bite marks? Sand ‘em and repaint. Carpet stained? Replace it. Backyard got holes? Fill ‘em in. Even a little effort makes a big difference. Buyers don’t wanna feel like they’re taking on a project. They want move-in-ready.
Refreshing Your Home’s Air Quality
Lingering pet odors can turn buyers away. Improving air quality is essential when selling a house with pets. Open windows daily for fresh air, use air purifiers, and replace HVAC filters to remove dander and smells. Adding houseplants can also help clean the air naturally.
Make Your Home Look Like Pets Don’t Live There
Even if your pets have been the best roommates ever, buyers don’t need to know they exist. Selling a house with pets is about making it as neutral as possible. Some buyers might be allergic, while others just don’t want to think about pet hair and odors. The key is to stage your home so it looks like pets never lived there. This means decluttering pet items, deep cleaning, and creating a welcoming space that appeals to everyone. A clean, pet-free-looking home will always sell faster.
Hide All the Pet Stuff
One of the best home staging tips is to make it look like pets never lived there. Even buyers who love animals don’t wanna see dog bowls and litter boxes everywhere. So, before a showing, put all that stuff away. Food bowls, beds, crates, toys—hide ‘em. Litter boxes? Out of sight. If buyers don’t see pet stuff, they won’t be thinking about pets. Instead, they’ll focus on the house itself, which is exactly what you want.
Sell the Pet-Friendly Side (Without Overdoing It)
There’s a fine line. Some buyers actually want a pet-friendly real estate option, but that doesn’t mean they wanna see dog hair all over the place.
If you’ve got a fenced yard, mention it. Got scratch-resistant flooring? That’s a plus. Living near a dog park? Could be a great selling point. But don’t make the whole sale about pets—just sprinkle in these details when it makes sense. You want the house to appeal to everyone, not just pet owners.
Showings and Open House with Pets—Handle with Care
Buyers want to focus on the house, not on your pets. Selling a house with pets means making sure your furry friends don’t get in the way during showings. Not everyone is comfortable around animals, and even those who are may find them distracting. A barking dog, a wandering cat, or a noticeable pet odor can turn buyers off. The best approach? Have a plan for where your pets will go during showings. Whether it’s a friend’s house, a pet daycare, or a long walk, keeping them out of sight helps your home sell faster.
Remove Your Pets During Showings
Listen, not everyone loves animals. Some people are allergic. Some are scared. Some just don’t want a dog jumping on them when they walk in. That’s why real estate showing preparation means getting pets outta there.
If you can, take your pets somewhere else during showings. A friend’s house, a pet daycare, even a long walk if the timing works. If you can’t, at least put them in a crate in a quiet room. Buyers need to feel comfortable, and a barking dog or a roaming cat might turn ‘em off.
Address Buyer Concerns Before They Even Ask
Even if your home is spotless, buyers might still worry. They’ll wonder about hidden pet damage, lingering smells, or allergies. Being proactive about homebuyer concerns about pets can put their minds at ease.
Make sure to let buyers know what you’ve done. Have a list ready: deep-cleaned carpets, fixed scratches, replaced air filters. If you’ve had a home inspection, even better. Buyers just wanna know they’re not walking into a problem. Reassure ‘em, and they’ll feel a lot better about making an offer.
Selling a House with Pets in San Francisco’s Market
Selling a house with pets in San Francisco means competing with a hot market. Buyers expect move-in-ready homes, and they won’t wanna deal with pet-related issues. If you wanna sell fast, you gotta be on top of cleaning, staging, and prepping.
If all this sounds like too much work, there’s another way. We Buy Houses Countywide makes selling easy, no matter what condition your home is in. No deep cleaning. No fixing stuff. Just a fair cash offer and a fast close. If you need to sell quickly, it might be the best option.
Why Pet Owners Need a Strategic Selling Approach
The San Francisco market is competitive, and selling a house with pets requires a plan. Buyers expect clean, move-in-ready homes. Addressing homebuyer concerns about pets, deep cleaning, and staging properly can help. If selling traditionally feels overwhelming,
The Bottom Line
Selling a house with pets requires extra effort, but with the right steps, it’s completely doable. Deep cleaning, pet odor removal, and following home staging tips can make your home more appealing to buyers. Removing pet-related items and keeping your pets away during showings ensures buyers focus on the home itself. The goal is to create a neutral, welcoming space. If you want to skip the hassle and sell fast, We Buy Houses Countywide offers a quick, cash sale with no repairs or cleaning needed. Contact us today for a fair, stress-free offer.
FAQs
Can I sell my house if I have pets?
Yes, selling a house with pets is possible with proper preparation. Deep cleaning, repairing pet damage, and removing pet-related items help attract more buyers.
How do I remove pet odors before selling?
Pet odor removal requires enzyme cleaners, professional carpet cleaning, and fresh air circulation. Washing pet bedding and using air purifiers can also eliminate lingering smells.
Should I hide pet items during home showings?
Yes, home staging tips suggest removing pet beds, toys, and litter boxes. A clutter-free, pet-free-looking home makes it easier for buyers to picture themselves living there.
Do I need to repair pet-related damage before selling?
Fixing scratches, stains, and chewed baseboards improves home value. Buyers may hesitate if they see visible pet damage, so minor repairs can make a big difference.
Can I sell my house as-is with pets?
Yes! We Buy Houses Countywide buys homes in any condition. No deep cleaning, staging, or repairs needed—just a quick, hassle-free sale for a fair cash offer.