Viewings with Pets?

jvpari

my cat photobombed one of our pictures without us seeing it! One also pooed on a viewing (in the litter tray but it stank) and they made an offer!

TBagpuss

Limana68 wrote: »

OP-have you sold your house yet??

Our house is on the market at the moment, and we have alot of pets ( 5 dogs, a cat, parrot and 3 rabbits( outside) and have had feedback from one viewer that she was put off by the animal smells.
Feel gutted as I do my best to clean etc but I suppose you get used to your own house smells!
I couldnt get the dogs out of the house for that particular viewing as I was at work, and hubby was at home so dogs were in the kitchen.

Any one got any other tips for getting rid of pet smells? I have candles etc but obviously this isn't helping

Candles and air fresher mask the smell but don't get rid. And with five dogs it will build up very quickly.

Steam cleaning for all carpets and soft furnishings would be a starting point. Using biological washing powder/liquid can help get rid of strong smells and

Make sure the dogs don't come into the house when they are wet - get them dried and brushed in the garage (if you have one) or restricted to one room (utility, if you have one, or kitchen if not) so that you limit the smell as much as possible. (wet dog smells more than dry dog, and it lingers)

If you can, try to keep the dogs out of the main rooms - do you have any family who might be able to look after them for a bit?

Davesnave

jvpari wrote: »

my cat photobombed one of our pictures without us seeing it! One also pooed on a viewing (in the litter tray but it stank) and they made an offer!

There's a thread in this section called "Look at This!" where there are regular 'Spot the Cat' entries, gleaned from Rightmove, Zoopla etc.

Ace1979

I'm really surprised this is seen as a major issue. Our estate agent wasn't fussed at all - we have a cat and a dog and have just sold. We'd always hoover shortly before a viewing, the cat keeps herself to herself, and the EA was quite happy with putting the dog in the garden IF she became a pest, but otherwise she just snored in her basket in the kitchen. And she's normally a pretty lively dog!

People have pets, people have kids, viewers need to have a little bit of foresight to see beyond the way the current incumbents live in their house, otherwise they'd never buy anywhere.

System

When my friend was living with her parents, they had the house up for sale. When they had viewers outside school hours, she was told to take the dog out for a walk! Simple as got temporary got rid of the stroppy teen and dog and both got exercise!

I think a neighbour took in the dog if viewings happened during school time.

amy4

I think I can "one-up" you all here. Once during a viewing, our 6 piglets escaped their pen and had a jolly good run about. I think the people viewing had a good laugh as I politely said "and there is a lovely view into the garden....OH YOU LITTLE B******S" and spent the next 5 minutes chasing them about the place while my OH distracted the viewers with the rooms at the other side of the house!:rotfl:

onlyroz

Cats wouldn't bother me but dogs would - particularly huge slobbery ones, or ones that jump up at you "just being friendly".

Shoey1610

Cats don't bother me on a viewing at all, but I'm afraid lively dogs do. We saw a house where a particularly amourous dog was getting romantic with a teddy bear whilst we were trying to look round. Very distracting.

Mrs_Z

We just put our house on the market and had 15 viewings booked for an open day :eek:

I wasn't sure what to do about our cat, but there wasn't anywhere I could go and take her with me, so I thought I go for the natural tranquiliser - food! Just fed her with a big handful of prawns (her favourite) 1/2 h before the viewings started, as I knew that she'd be likely to snooze happily by the radiator digesting.... and apparently that's exactly what she did! She is not shy or anything but thought she may be alarmed having a stream of strangers coming and going whilst we're out... Anyway, feedback from the Agent was that although not everyone loved our house - they all absolutely loved the cat :T (and also received 1 offer on the house :beer: )

Pip40

Although we have two dogs, I really clean a lot to keep on top of the doggy smells, and they aren't particularly 'doggy' dogs (they are greyhounds, which don't have a smell other than gross breath!). As such my sister walked both of them whilst I had viewings and I made sure that their beds, food things, etc were all out of the way and the garden was clear of any mess.

As a viewer, dog mess in the garden and a general dog smell would put me off, but not enough if I really liked the right house at the right place.

As for cats, I appreciate that they are less transportable than dogs. I think if I had more than two I would put them into baskets and leave them with a friend or in the car (weather permitting). As a person with a cat allergy, when I went on viewings I would take an anti-histamine, just as I would if visiting a friend with a cat.

Steam cleaners are great for getting rid of smells.