Home Selling Tips for Pets and Their Owners!

August 11, 2022

Love our pets like peeps!! But….

There’s no doubt pets play an important role in our homes. They wait for us to come home after a long day, they protect our property, and they are there to comfort us when things go wrong. Use these tips to ensure that you can enjoy your pet and sell your home at the same time!

Invest in a good carpet cleaner.

It’s a good idea to invest in a carpet cleaner, or have your carpets cleaned professionally to ensure there are no obvious pet stains. Plus, pet odors can radiate throughout the house. A carpet cleaner will help remove those odors and embedded fur.

Keep your pet out of the house.

If possible, it’s best to leave your pet with a friend, a relative, or another trusted caretaker while showing your home. If no one is available, consider putting your pet in a crate in an area where potential buyers are less likely to be—either a basement or mudroom. Put a blanket, bowl of water, and favorite toy in the crate to help your pet feel more comfortable.

Clean up the yard.

Your backyard can also leave traces of your pet, so it’s important to clean up any waste and toys. Keep a toy bin by the door, and try to have your pet do their business in the same area so the cleanup will be easier. If there are any bare patches of grass, you can try to aerate and seed these spots or plant sod for a quick fix.

Put away the pictures.

If you’re anything like the thousands of other pet parents out there, you probably have a handful of pictures of your pet around your home. You’d be surprised at how much potential buyers pay attention to pictures during a showing. These pictures will be a dead giveaway of your pet ownership, so it’s best not to display them while showing your home.

Familiarize yourself with your insurance policy.
Even if your pet is the nicest pet in the world, having your pet around during a showing poses a handful of potential risks. Take a look at your homeowner’s policy and make sure that it covers you in the event your pet becomes aggressive with someone on your property. Aggression doesn’t have to always be malicious: even if your pet knocks somebody down due to excitement, you could still be held liable. These types of situations happen more often than you would think, so it’s better to be prepared.

There’s no reason for your animal to hinder your selling process. Use these tips to ensure that you can still enjoy your pet, and make a deal all at the same time!

Great Ways to Prepare your Home to Sell

August 9, 2022

So you are thinking about selling… Now What???

So you think you want to sell your home! It’s hard to know where to start. When you begin to look around your home, there are always tons of things you may think you want to do before selling. But I promise you that not all of them are important!

You only really need to focus on a few things. Here is a great list of 10 easy ways to prepare your home for Sale.

Clean up your Yard:

First impressions are so important. Make sure that you mow your lawn, weed those flower beds, and put a wreath on the front door!

Exterior of the home:

The outside is just as important as the inside when it comes to first impressions. Hose down the house, clean out the gutters, and even pressure wash your siding. Make sure the driveway is cleaned off too.

Fix MAJOR defects:

Not all the things in your home need to be fixed. However if there are big things that need attention, it is better to get those addressed before you put your house on the market! Things like leaky roofs, or sinks, and water under the house need to be fixed before you list your home. It’s also nice to fix those things you have been putting off, like squeaky doors and cupboards, or broken windows.

Get rid of that CLUTTER

No one likes to walk into a home filled with clutter. But we often do that in our own homes because we actually stop seeing all of the things around us. It’s true! We become blind to all the things that are always there. So take a look at your home with fresh eyes. Maybe even ask a friend to come over and point out things you really don’t need. Pack up things you want to save, and donate the rest. Challenge yourself to get as many things out of your house as possible! This will make a big difference on the appearance (and showing) of your home.

Doors and Knobs

One easy (and relatively inexpensive) upgrade for any home is installing new doorknobs and handles. This makes a big difference in the appearance of a home. Make sure you get all matching handles and knobs. And don’t forget to make sure there is no creaking when you open and close doors.

Soft and Warm

The “Feel” of your home is so important when you are selling your house. Make it feel warm and cozy by adding rugs and pillows. Experiment with different textures and colors. This is a great way to make your home inviting.

Paint Party

If you want to make your house look fresh and clean, there is no better way then a fresh coat of paint. It takes time to paint, but it relatively inexpensive, and so helpful in showing your home. Make sure to choose neutral colors. Don’t go BOLD when you are going to sell. The colors you like may be completely different than the potential buyers coming through your home. Make them soft, light, and classic.

Set the Table

If you have fancy dishes and silverware, it’s sometimes fun to set the table before a showing! People feel the warmth of “family” when they see a set table. It gives them vision of what it would be like to have their family around a table in that space. It is a very inviting gesture!

And last, but not least….

Make your home SMELL YUMMY!

Whatever you do, DON’T cook strong smelling dishes any time while your home is on the market. And DO put on a diffuser with great smelling essential oils. Essential oils can be wonderful when it comes to having buyers feel at home. The best oils to diffuse during showings are citrus oils (orange, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, etc.).

I hope this was helpful! There are so many things that can help get your home “sale ready” that are easy and inexpensive to do. I would love to help get you on your way!

Here to help,

Wendy

Mid Year Look at the Market

August 4, 2022

I know we are past the middle of the year, but I wanted to share some information with you about the housing market right now! Click Here to go to a great article you will want to read!

What about the Willamette Valley??

Here are some stats from last month from our area. The median price went up. And the amount of homes on the market is still less than 2 months worth. This is a good thing for sellers, and getting better for buyers as well.

People are still getting more than asking price and multiple offers are still happening.

If you are thinking about selling, this is the time!! Call me with any questions!

Remember that this month I am doing a complete CMA (Current Market Analysis) Free for anyone in the area!

Have a great week!

~Wendy