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!