By Credit.com
The majority of American households have a pet — 62%, according to the Humane Society of the United States. That can be one of the problems when you’re trying to sell your home.
It’s not just the smell, either (though that’s a huge issue). Damage to floors, pet hair all over the couch, a torn-up yard or a dog barking while someone is touring your house can have a negative impact on potential buyers.
“It’s a first impressions kind of business,” said Arvin Sahakian, a real estate agent and vice president of mortgage marketplace BeSmartee. “I would say it has a big impact on what a buyer is willing to pay.”
For every dollar it costs to repair damage caused by pets, a buyer might reduce their offer by $2 to $3, estimates David Scott of RE/MAX Valley Realtors in Illinois. That could end up costing more than if you repair the damage yourself before selling the home.
That’s not always easy, especially when it comes to odor.
“Even if the home is staged properly, it’s just something about that smell, particularly with cats,” Sahakian said. He recalled an experience when he showed …read more
Source:: Home Sellers