What to do with pets? (agent, offer, Realtor, furniture)

[Twinkletoes]

I am putting my house on the market and have two cats. I have asked everybody if my house smells and it does not. They have a covered litter box in a corner of our finished basement. It gets scooped every day. They do shed, but it only shows on the furniture. I vacuum the sofas every day and the floors look clean.

What else can I do? I realize that not everybody likes pets. I don't want to buy somebody else's house who may have had pets messing up the carpets, etc. and I don't want to turn buyers off to my house. None of my friends want to take our cats for an indefinite amount of time while our house is for sale.

Any suggestions on living with pets while selling?

[BK2Westchester]

If your house does not smell and there aren't carpet stains everyhere then what exactly is the problem?

[CouponJack]

I have a cat and you wouldn't even know it because the litter is cleaned every day and is in the laundry room. Sounds like your OK

ARe they outdoor cats? if so, you can let them out when the potential buyers come

[Twinkletoes]

They are indoor cats, so they can't go outside.

I guess I'm more concerned about PERCEIVED issues than actual issues. And maybe there is nothing I can do about that? Some people just won't want my house if I have pets, regardless of whether they have caused any damage.

Any creative ideas for hiding the litter box? The cats themselves may actually hide under a bed - so - poof - no cats visible. A buyer might not have to know I have cats

[songinthewind7]

You clean the litterbox and the house doesn't smell bad, so that's a start.
I have a dog and a parrot I need to do something with when someone looks at the house.
I usually pick up the dogs toys and dishes and put them away somewhere and cover my noisy parrot's cage. Fortunately, I've been around when I've gotten a call that the house is getting ready to be shown in 30 minutes or so and I take the dog for a ride and straighten up a little. Maybe put the cat in a crate for awhile.

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by Twinkletoes

Some people just won't want my house if I have pets, regardless of whether they have caused any damage.

Any creative ideas for hiding the litter box? The cats themselves may actually hide under a bed - so - poof - no cats visible. A buyer might not have to know I have cats

I think you might be overreacting just a bit. You'll be fine. Just be diligent about cleaning the litter, put a not to powerful air freshner in the room just to neutralize whatever odor their might be....

I'm not sure about what to do w/the litter box, but whever you move it, make sure the cats know where it is so they can use it!

[Silverfall]

Is your carpet in good shape? There can be a perception problem for some buyers, and I usually have my sellers offer to professionally clean the carpets and ductwork (lots of cat hair in there). Since the house doesn't smell, people won't be worried about urine in the carpet, they just want to get rid of the hair.

I can say in my experience I have had two buyers that it was an issue for.

[Donna Springer]

First of all, let your Realtor know if the cats are indoor only cats.. If they are, we usually put bright signs up saying "do not let cats out".
Usually cats either sleep or just hide when buyers come through. As long as agents and buyers know ahead of time (think allergies) and you have no strong smells in your home you should be fine. Your agent can add " do not let cats out" to agent remarks section so buyers and agents know this. I would keep the litter box in the basement as a precaution--no one likes to find it in a bathroom or living area.

[Boomerang]

You say you already have a covered litterbox, so there's not much else you can do to hide it. Only people with allergies to cats will really object, I think.

[maggiekate]

if you are having a showing of the home- which is not often, it these days. why not
if your cats are used to a crate-put them in the car, crate, since you need to leave.

nobody is the wiser, or if you have a house that is really going to sell, board at the vet's
i, never would ask, or even request a friend to mind my pets, my problem.