| On the surface, it seems that selling a home with | | | | areas may require a cleaning machine or a |
| dogs present should be easy. After all, the dogs | | | | cleaning company. As much as you like advertising |
| are going with you when you leave - they won't | | | | that you're the proud owner of Pookie, take the |
| be the buyer's problem. But where you see no | | | | most obvious pictures of him down and hide them |
| problem can hinder a house sale. | | | | until visitors are gone. |
| One would think that potential buyers with pets | | | | If, for whatever reason, you can't send Pookie |
| wouldn't care in the least about your pet and to | | | | packing, make his presence as unobtrusive as |
| an extent you're right. However, if buyers who | | | | possible. It's best if he's crate trained, as you can |
| own pets know that you own them as well, they | | | | pop him into his crate and cover it with a |
| will use their pet knowledge to examine the floor | | | | decorative throw. Maybe you can pass him off as |
| for fleas and pay extra attention to that lighter | | | | a coffee table. If you don't have a crate, a tether |
| area on the rug where Pookie once "left his mark" | | | | in the back yard may be your best option. Don't |
| in a fit of youthful exuberance. | | | | allow Pookie the run of the yard or even any |
| As unfriendly as it sounds, seriously consider | | | | great freedom. The showing will soon be over and |
| scheduling doggy daycare or a visit to a | | | | then he can run his legs off. |
| Pookie-loving friend for the duration of the | | | | If there's something dog related that you can't |
| showing of your home. Pookie will be set off | | | | move for whatever reason, do everything you |
| balance by this change in the usual routine of | | | | can to make it look better. If Pookie's old |
| visitors and may behave inappropriately. The | | | | doghouse would leave a crater in the yard if you |
| intrusion of many strange people into his domain | | | | had it removed, do something that makes it look |
| may trigger vocalizing or nipping. Even a friendly | | | | better. Paint it or plant flowers around the sides. |
| greeting is not appreciated by many prospective | | | | You may be able to pass it off as an object d' |
| home buyers. | | | | art. Coil up chains and rake the grass to make |
| One may think that confining Pookie is the | | | | sure Pookie hasn't left any "gifts" for the visitors. |
| answer, but where? People considering your home | | | | If there are bald patches on the lawn, treat them |
| as their possible next purchase will want to see | | | | with a special grass replacement or cut them out |
| every square inch and may think you're hiding | | | | and replace them with sod. |
| something if you refuse to open the door from | | | | Make sure that your house is not hosting any |
| whence the howling is coming from. Again, you're | | | | Pookie-borne parasites. There are many flea and |
| faced with hassle if you try showing it to them | | | | tick treatments out on the market, some of |
| with the dog in one hand. The back yard is also | | | | which that are environmentally friendly and less |
| something buyers want to see and they may find | | | | toxic to children and other pets. Make sure that if |
| it difficult to appreciate all of the many benefits of | | | | you need to treat your house for parasites that |
| your home while Pookie is barking at the end of | | | | it's done at least a few days before the visit so |
| his chain. Do him a favor and pay someone to | | | | that the visitor isn't smelling the acrid odor of |
| walk him for a couple of hours. | | | | whatever noxious chemical you used to get rid of |
| The next thing is to remove the most obvious | | | | your obnoxious visitors. Treat Pookie as well; no |
| traces of Pookie from the house and yard. Stow | | | | house treatment is going to be effective if he is |
| his bed and doggie bowls in an unobtrusive location | | | | constantly bringing new pests into the area. |
| of the house. Make sure that every single bit of | | | | Look at your house from the point of view of a |
| dog refuse is picked up in the yard and disposed | | | | dog-hating person. Go through each room and |
| of where the smell will not be apparent to buyers. | | | | look for evidence that dogs live there or have |
| Get a box and pile all of Pookie's toys in it. | | | | been resident. The more you can minimize the |
| Tripping over a tennis ball doesn't put people in a | | | | impact of your dog's presence, the more likely |
| positive buying frame of mind. Make sure that the | | | | you will get serious offers faster. We love our |
| house does not have Odor d' Canine as it's main | | | | pets, but it's a small sacrifice to make their |
| fragrance; get a friend from a house without pets | | | | presence less noticeable for the sake of selling a |
| to smell test for you. Treat with an enzyme | | | | home faster. |
| formula like Nature's Miracle for small areas. Larger | | | | |