Evaluating Your North Shore Home for Pet Damage Before Selling

4 Area of Pet Damage to Address Before Listing Your North Shore Home

Pet Damage & Selling Your North Shore Home

For pet owners, Fido the dog or Mittens the cat are a part of the family. The issue with these family members when it comes to selling your North Shore home is that they can lead to lost home value if there is pet damage to your home. According to the American Pet Products Association, it's estimated that 37-47% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 30-37% have a cat. This means that one-third to one-half of home sellers of Chicago’s North Shore may be contending with pet damage needing remedy prior to listing and selling their homes. Here are 4 areas to evaluate for pet damage and address when deciding to sell your home on Chicago's North Shore:

Odors

A popular home air freshener brand has recently coined the phrase “nose blind”. Unfortunately, many pet owners succumb to this dreaded nose blindness. Since you spend a lot of time in your home, it gets to a point where you no longer recognize smells that may be offensive to those who do not have pets. While anyone who is listing their home should do a thorough deep cleaning, pet owners should especially dive deep into every nook and cranny. Cleaning carpeting and upholstery is very important, as both tend to retain smells. Don’t be afraid to ask a close friend or a family member for an honest opinion. Remember, a stinky home could be the difference between getting an offer and not, so don’t take it personally!

Stains

It is very important that you do your best to remove any pet stains from your flooring. No matter the cause, pet stains will be a turnoff to potential buyers. Even if there isn’t a lingering odor, pet stains still give a home an unclean feeling. If the stains can’t be removed with spot treatment, have them professionally addressed. If they can’t be professionally removed, it’s then time to consider replacement.

Scratches / Chew Damage

This can be a costly one, depending on the extent of the damage. Inspect your flooring, doors, and trim carefully. If the damage can not be buffed or sanded away, it may be necessary to consider replacement. If there is damage to hardwood flooring, you should consider having the flooring refinished.  While this type of damage doesn't necessarily lend to an unsanitary feeling to the home, buyers will see the damage as an expense that will be incurred immediately upon moving in.

Landscaping

First and foremost, your lawn. It’s almost inevitable that owning a dog will lead to yellow or bare spots in your lawn. If you have ample time, over-seeding may be a possibility. If not, invest in sod to address the dead area. Beyond just your lawn, you should also inspect plants, shrubs, and fencing. If your pet has created wear on any of these items, it’s time to repair or replace them.

As much as we love our pets, they can definitely add to the wear and tear on your North Shore home — especially if your pet is young or you have been in the home for some time. Unfortunately, potential buyers do not share in your attachment to your pet and therefore will notice every ounce of damage caused by said pet. The best thing to do is to be proactive in addressing pet damage before listing your home, and these are 4 areas that you will definitely want to assess. Taking the time to repair any pet damage will result in a higher sale price and potentially a quicker sale. If you’re in debate of what should and should not be repaired based on the cost, your North Shore realtor can be a great resource. Please contact me if you would are considering selling your North Shore home. I will help you prepare your home for listing so that you can get the most out of your investment.

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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4 Tips to Prepare Your North Shore Home to Sell!

As a seasoned North Shore real estate professional, I have worked with many sellers to prepare their homes for listing. The first impression your home leaves on buyers is so important!  While thoroughly cleaning your home is the obvious place to start, buyers will see beyond dirty floors and windows.  Here are 4 tips to help make your North Shore home ready for the eyes of buyers.

Start with your exterior.  If buyers like what they see on the outside, they’ll be excited to see the inside.  What impression is the exterior of your home giving?  Is your landscaping fresh?  Is your lawn healthy?  Is your paint or siding showing wear?  Look at your North Shore real estate with a critical eye because buyers most certainly will.  Don’t overspend on your exterior unless necessary, but definitely repair obvious issues.

Organize, organize, organize.  When buyers are viewing your home, they will want to see inside closets, cabinets, and possibly even drawers.  Storage space is important to many buyers, and they're going to want to see how much of it your North Shore home has to offer.  Clean and organize all storage areas.  This may be a good time to purge those items that you’ve been meaning to donate to free up some closet space.  Ensure that your basement and garage are neat and orderly as well.  

Appeal to the Senses:  Bad smells can hinder the sale of a home.  If there is anything in your North Shore home that is creating an unappealing scent, determine the cause and truly eliminate it.  While air fresheners and candles can enhance the buyer experience, don’t use them to simply cover bad smells.  “Floral Litter Box” isn’t a candle scent for a reason.  Common culprits can be water leaks, pets and cooking.   

Your agent knows best:  If your North Shore real estate agent recommends that there are certain belongings you should consider removing prior to showing your home, he or she is trying to make your home appealing to as many buyers as possible.  Depersonalizing your home allows buyers to envision their own belongings in the space.  The more buyers can imagine your North Shore home as their own, the more likely they are to make an offer! 

Taking the time to ready your North Shore real estate for showing can have a definite impact how quickly it sells.  With years of experience, I have developed an eye for what makes a home move in Chicago’s North Shore market.  If you would like assistance in selling or buying in the area, please contact me.  Let my expertise go to work for you! 

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website

Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States.