Pet Tips

Thinking of selling your home? If you own pets, these tips from Rebecca Harris will help increase the selling potential of your property.

Move pets out

Animals can be seen as a distraction during open home inspections, so make arrangements to move pets off the property. Neighbours, friends or family members might be prepared to mind your pets for a few hours. Avoid stressing your pets with long car trips (birds in particular do not travel well in cars).

Clean up

Thoroughly clean areas that collect fur and animal debris, such as lounges, beds, mats and areas where the pets sleep. Use lint brushes and vacuum to remove the hair, and if it’s practical, steam clean to remove odours. If your pet is moulting during inspections, brush it outside every day (consider having the animal clipped and professionally groomed). Bird cages and surrounds should be cleaned and preferably removed during inspections. Many home owners allow their birds to fly free in the house. Check areas where birds perch and remove small droppings. Also clean up any feathers dropped by preening birds. To a potential home buyer, captive rodents mean possible loose rodents. Move pet rodents, their food and items away from the home during inspections. A fish tank or bowl can add some visual theatre to the house, but it must be kept clean.

Hide the evidence

As well as moving your pets, remove all evidence of pets. Store pet toys, bedding, scratching poles, food and fresh kitty litter in a suitable, discreet area. In the garden, remove droppings and fill in any holes dug by your pet. Remove bones and other pet treats. If you have a cat, look for evidence of partly eaten birds, natives or rodents. Treat flea infestations or better still, use a good quality flea preventative before problems occur. Repair or conceal areas where pets have left unsightly stains or marks. Cats can scratch furniture, carpets, curtains and soft furnishings. Dogs can chew legs of tables and chairs and door frames, and scratch glass panels on doors. Both cats and dogs can leave urine stains on carpets. If you can’t repair the damage or lift unsightly stains, use a few ‘dirty tricks’ and cover with a piece of furniture.

Eliminate odours

Even though you may have become accustomed to pet odours in your home and not notice them, home buyers will notice them straight away. Ask a friend to tell you if they can smell pets in your home, and ask them to be honest. If the answer is yes, take steps to remove the odours.

Kitty litter and your pets’s bedding are major sources of pet smells. Wash the bedding and clean out the litter tray. Shampoo the carpets to extract animal smells, and ventilate the house by opening windows and doors before inspections.

Use good quality potpourri and concentrated fragrant oils. Don’t use cheap deodorising agents like aerosol air fresheners or deodorisers. Go for natural ingredients, such as a large bowl of fresh lemons, or make a pomander (see below).

Make a pomander

Pomanders were once made of ambergris, a fragrant substance obtained from sperm whales. These ‘apples of amber’ were worn to protect against infection and foul smells. Today, pomanders are used as sweet smelling ornaments, and they’re great for disguising pet odours.

You’ll need

  • 1 foam ball (from florists or craft shops) or a whole orange
  • ribbon
  • whole cloves
  • flowers, dried or artificial
  • scented oil (optional)

What to do

  1. Place the middle of the ribbon at the top of the ball, and draw the ends down to the bottom. Cross and twist the ribbon and draw it back up to the top, as if you were tying a package. Leave the ribbon ends long so that you can use them to hang the pomander up. You can use a whole orange, but it won’t last as long.
  2. Press the whole cloves into the ball, until it is so well covered it resembles an echidna!
  3. Take the artificial or dried flowers and push the stems into the foam ball. Continue until all the cloves are hidden by flowers.
  4. If using scented oil, add just a few drops.
  5. Hang up the finished pomander. You can use your pomander to subtly scent a room, or perhaps hang it in a doorway so you get a gentle whiff whenever you open the door.