Northern Virginia Real Estate Tip: How to De-Pet Your Home

We all love our pets and chances are if you've been living in homes in Northern Virginia, your pets have left their mark on your property. Homebuyers looking for Northern Virginia real estate can often tell when a pet has lived in a home and that may (or may not) sway their opinion of purchasing. So, before you list your home for sale this year, think about these tips and how to de-pet your home. When the time comes to sell, you just may find a better turn-out than if you had not followed these.

Take Them Outside
When your home is listed for sale and homebuyers will be touring the property, keep your pet outside. The National Association of Realtors suggests there is nothing more off-putting than a homebuyer who encounters an energetic pet when they open the door. And if you do keep your pet inside the home, be sure the real estate agent knows where it is. You may love your pet, but other homebuyers may not.

Track Down the Hair
This is one of the biggest issues with having a pet and selling the home. The first thing you'll want to do is track down the hair, deep clean the carpets, floors and furniture to remove all signs of pet hair. You'll need a powerful vacuum to remove all hair, and while that helps, vacuuming alone will not cut it. Grab sticky sheets, like those from a lint roller, to get in the cracks of furniture.

Tackle the Carpets
The carpets may show all signs of having a pet and buyers in Northern Virginia real estate will notice. Again, vacuuming alone will not cut it. You will want to deep clean your carpets to remove pet spots and odor. Invest in an enzyme digester that you may need to apply several times, suggests MSN Real Estate. Because, after all, "professional carpet cleaning [alone] won't do the trick. In fact, adding water can simply "reactivate" the smells."

Clean Up the Wood
If you have hardwood in your homes in Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax City, or McLean, it's time to buff and polish those floors. Pets can leave scratches and spots and buyers will likely notice this as well. Polish the floors and use a citrus scent as many animals will avoid this smell and will keep your floors looking nice for open houses and showings.

Ready to begin the process of selling your homes in Northern Virginia? 

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.

Earle Whitmore

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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