Here in Ocala, FL we love our pets – and so do you!  Living with a pet can be very rewarding, and we know how much pets have become a cherished part of our family.  We wanted to offer some pet-friendly homeowner tips for those thinking about putting their property on the market.  Any homeowner who shares space with a pet knows that not everyone may be as receptive to them as you are. (They are our babies after all, right?)  The following tips are provided to keep your house as clean and fresh-smelling as possible.

• The invisible pet. Sometimes owning a pet can put a bad stigmatism on the property for buyers – they may think that the property will smell, carry covered-up pet stains, harbor allergy-inducing dander, chewing/claw damage on floors and baseboards, etc…  Sometimes the best remedy for a pet owner is to make the buyers feel as if there was no pet at all.  A daily chore to pick up pet bedding, food bowls, hide litter boxes and dispose of “outdoor doggie debris” will appear as if your home never had a pet at all.  This will nip those stigmatisms in the bud and allow the buyer to view the home with an open mind.
• Pet odors. All types of pet hair has an aroma, most of which homeowners can become desensitized to over time, but are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses.  Vacuum on a regular basis (at least weekly), even if the pet hair in question matches your furniture and you cannot see it. We promise you, your potential buyers can detect it. There are vacuums on the market made especially for picking up animal hair.
• Regular baths. Sorry Fido.  This is obvious, but a regularly bathed pet makes for a clean house. Stopping odors at their source is one of the best preventative measures you could possibly take. One pet tip we have found is using a coal-tar shampoo, the shampoo strips hair clean of dirt and oil build-up, the clean scent is long lasting and it is great for keeping their skin healthy.  If you would like to do a little extra, you may also opt to condition the pet’s coat – this will prolong those good-smelling aromas.
  
• Nail care. Keeping your pet’s nails trimmed also cuts down on scratched floors and fabrics.  It also allows for less dirt to be picked up outside and brought into your home.
  
• Fighting stains. Look into a product known as Crypton. It is a stain-resistant fabric that includes suedes and twills. As always, leather and Ultrasuede are great choices for pet owners as they are less likely to harbor odors.  Carpets must be deep-cleaned as opposed to spot-treated.  Most marketed carpet cleaners do not get deep into the carpet and/or padding.  This means that the stains will lift up from deep within the carpet only to haunt you by returning later.  We have had great results with Stanley Steamer carpet cleaners, their commercial shampooing vacuums have the ability to jet in high-powered hot soapy water to blast out the dirt and enzymes, then uses high-power suction to take the dirty wash water away.  Spot removers usually just move the dirt around on the carpet and do not actually lift the problem away, thus causing an on-going issue.
  
• Flooring alternatives. If you are deciding on new flooring or an upgrade, nix the wall-to-wall carpeting.  Carpet and padding absorb odors, trap pet hair and soak up stains. Hardwood, tile and laminate floors make for easy maintenance and help reduce allergies and are seen as a “plus” over vinyl flooring.
• Appropriate toys. Rubber toys are a great alternative to pig’s ears and rawhide bones, especially if you have a mad chewer.  Chew toys such as Kongs and Nylabone not only keep your pet busy for long periods of time, have different densities of rubber for different chew power but are better for your pet’s health with no fat and little to no calories.  Pig’s ears and certain types of chew bones will most certainly stain your carpet (be sure to read the labels of your pet products).
  
• Pet-sitter. Sometimes the best remedy is to perhaps have a friend or family member “baby-sit” your pet while your home is on the market, this will allow you to clean up pet dander and the odor will be greatly reduced.  Remember, not all people are “pet people” and you want the home to show as neutral as possible.
  

To learn about more interesting things for your home with pets go to www.everydaystudio.com and www.animalhousestyle.com.  For more tips on selling your home, feel free to visit our Just For Ocala FL Sellers portion of our website.  You will find more information on home selling secrets, free seller reports and request a comparative market analysis to see what your home is worth in today’s Marion County Real Estate Market.  Check out our latest Ocala Florida Real Estate Market Statistics as well!

For more detailed statistics or a free market analysis, please call or e-mail us.
Info@TheShultzTeam.com or call us direct at 352-291-1276.

Art & Brigitte Shultz
The Shultz Team
#1 Team at Re/Max Premier Realty
Ocala, FL
Toll Free: 800-243-4087
Direct: 352-291-1276
Info@OcalaVisualTours.com
www.OcalaVisualTours.com
* FREE OCALA MOVING TRUCK WHEN YOU BUY OR SELL THROUGH THE SHULTZ TEAM! *

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