Essential steps for selling a home with pets

Selling a Home With Pets: The Complete Guide

Sixty-seven percent of American households own pets, which means most home sellers face the same challenge: how to present a property that appeals to buyers when your dog has scratched the hardwood or your cat has left its mark on the carpet. The stakes are real—unaddressed pet damage can knock thousands off your final sale price or keep your home sitting on the market for months.

This guide walks you through removing odors and stains, making cost-effective repairs, staging your space to hide all evidence of pets, and deciding where your animals go during showings. You'll also learn when skipping the traditional process altogether might be the smarter move.

Why pets complicate a home sale

Pet odors, visible damage, and buyer allergies create real obstacles when you're ready to sell. Even the friendliest dog or cat leaves behind scratches on hardwood, stains deep in carpet padding, or smells embedded in walls. Buyers notice immediately. Some people have severe allergies, others fear animals, and many just want a clean, neutral space where they can picture their own life unfolding.

Homes where pets have lived often sit on the market longer and attract lower offers. When buyers spot chewed baseboards or catch a whiff of litter box odor, they start mentally calculating repair costs. The good news? With the right preparation, you can address pet-related concerns and present a home that appeals to a wide range of buyers.

Step-by-step pet odor and stain removal

Start by walking through your home with fresh eyes. Better yet, ask a friend who doesn't own pets to do a smell test. Pet owners often become nose-blind to scents that buyers pick up the moment they walk through the door.

1. Identify hidden smell sources

Check behind furniture, under area rugs, along baseboards, and in corners where pets mark territory. A handheld UV flashlight reveals dried urine stains invisible to the naked eye. Pay special attention to entryways, laundry rooms, and any space where your pet spends significant time.

2. Deep clean carpets and upholstery

Enzyme-based cleaners break down the proteins in urine, feces, and vomit that cause lingering odors. Regular household cleaners only mask smells temporarily and can actually set stains deeper into fibers. Apply enzyme cleaner generously, let it soak for the recommended time, then extract with a wet vacuum or steam cleaner. Surface cleaning won't reach odors trapped in carpet padding or subfloors.

3. Neutralize air with enzymes and ventilation

Open windows to create cross-ventilation and let fresh air circulate. Run HEPA air purifiers in rooms where pets spend the most time, and replace HVAC filters to remove pet dander from your system. Spray enzyme solutions on walls, baseboards, and hard floors where pets rub or mark. You might be surprised how much odor absorbs into drywall and wood trim.

4. Schedule a professional steam treatment

When home remedies aren't enough, professional carpet and upholstery cleaning makes a measurable difference. Hot water extraction penetrates deep into fibers, lifting embedded residues that contribute to persistent smells. Book this service at least a week before listing to allow carpets and furniture to dry completely.

Essential repairs that protect your bottom line

Visible pet damage signals to buyers that a home might have hidden maintenance issues. Small, targeted repairs prevent buyers from using pet wear-and-tear as leverage to lower your sale price.

Scratched floors and trim

Hardwood floors show claw marks more than any other surface. Assess whether you can sand and refinish affected areas or if you'll get better results by replacing individual boards. Laminate and vinyl floors may respond to color-blending markers for minor scratches, but deep gouges often require plank replacement. Fresh paint on baseboards costs little but dramatically improves how well-maintained your home appears.

Chewed doors and baseboards

Fill bite marks and chew damage with wood filler, then sand smooth before painting. If the damage is structural, like a door corner chewed through, replacement presents better than a patched repair in listing photos.

Yard and fence fixes

Fill holes your dog dug, level bare patches, and reseed thin grass at least six weeks before listing to allow new growth. Repair or replace broken fence panels and latches. Buyers notice outdoor maintenance as much as interior condition. Treat soil and hardscape in dog runs with enzyme solutions to eliminate outdoor odors that linger after rain.

Repainting high-traffic areas

A fresh coat of paint does more than cover scuff marks. It seals in odors absorbed by drywall. Use a stain-blocking primer on walls where pets rubbed frequently, then apply two coats of quality paint. Focus on hallways, corners near pet beds, and rooms where your pet spent the most time.

Staging and marketing a pet-occupied home

Buyers want to envision their own life in your home, not yours. Removing all evidence of pets during showings and in listing photos expands your buyer pool significantly.

Store beds, toys, and bowls

Pack away every pet-related item before each showing: food and water bowls, beds and toys, and scratching posts, leashes, and grooming supplies

Create a labeled storage bin near your garage or in your car for quick clean-up when you get last-minute showing requests. Litter boxes belong completely out of sight, ideally removed from the house during showings.

Capture pet-free listing photos

Schedule your listing photographer for a day when your pets can stay elsewhere. Vacuum thoroughly, lint-roll all upholstered furniture, and double-check that no pet items appear in any room. Buyers scroll through dozens of listings online. A single photo with a dog bed or litter box can make them skip to the next property.

Highlight durable pet-ready features only when asked

Avoid marketing your home as "pet-friendly" in listing descriptions. If buyers ask during showings, mention appealing features like tile or hardwood flooring, fenced yards, mudrooms with utility sinks, or easy-clean surfaces. Let buyers discover benefits themselves rather than leading with pet ownership.

Where should your pets go during showings?

Removing pets during buyer visits eliminates distractions and makes everyone more comfortable. Even friendly, well-behaved animals can trigger allergies, fears, or simply pull attention away from your home's best features.

Boarding or daycare services

Doggy daycare works well for open houses or days with back-to-back showings. Research local facilities ahead of time, tour them, and confirm vaccination requirements so you can book quickly when needed. Many services offer half-day rates that align perfectly with typical showing windows.

Trusted friends or family

Line up two or three backup caregivers who can watch your pet on short notice. Share a house key, feeding schedule, and veterinarian contact information in advance. Having multiple options reduces stress when showings pop up unexpectedly.

Quick crate and walk strategy for short notice

For brief showings when relocation isn't possible, crate your pet in a secure, well-ventilated space and leave for a walk. Use calming aids if your pet experiences anxiety in new situations. Leave a note for your agent confirming the pet is secured, but don't post signs that draw buyer attention to the situation.

Do pets really lower your home's value?

Pet ownership alone doesn't automatically reduce your home's value. Unaddressed pet damage and odors do. Buyers with allergies or sensitivities may pass on your property regardless of how clean it appears, but thorough preparation significantly broadens your appeal to everyone else.

The perception of pet damage often costs more than the actual repairs. When buyers see scratched floors or smell lingering odors, they assume problems exist throughout the home and factor concerns into their offer. Investing in deep cleaning and targeted repairs upfront typically returns more value than the cost of the work itself.

Fast-sale options when prep work feels overwhelming

Not every seller has the time, budget, or desire to complete extensive pet-related repairs and cleaning. If managing showings around your pets feels unmanageable or if your timeline doesn't allow for lengthy preparations, alternative selling paths exist.

Instant cash offers with no showings

Cash buyers often purchase homes as-is, including pet damage and odors. This approach eliminates the need for staging, open houses, and coordinating pet removal for every showing. You choose your closing date and move forward without the uncertainty of traditional market timing.

List with backup cash offer for flexibility

Some sellers prefer to test the traditional market first while keeping a cash offer as a safety net. This strategy gives you the chance to maximize your sale price through competitive bidding while maintaining the option to accept a guaranteed offer if showings become too disruptive with pets at home.

Final thoughts: move on your terms with Opendoor

Selling a home with pets doesn't mean choosing between your animals' comfort and your sale price. The right preparation helps you present a home that appeals to a wide buyer pool. Yet for many pet owners, the logistics of managing showings, coordinating care, and maintaining a spotless home for weeks or months feel overwhelming.

Opendoor offers a different path. You can request a free, no-obligation cash offer online, skip the showings entirely, and choose your own closing date. Your pets stay comfortable at home. Whether you decide to prepare your home for the traditional market or explore a faster, more certain option, the power to move forward stays in your hands.

Get a free cash offer and see what your home is worth today.

FAQs about selling a home with pets

Do I have to disclose that pets live in the home?

Most states don't require sellers to disclose pet ownership specifically. However, being transparent about any damage and repairs you've completed helps avoid issues during appraisals and inspections. Buyers appreciate honesty, and addressing problems upfront builds trust that can smooth negotiations.

How do I handle buyers with severe pet allergies?

Invest in professional deep cleaning, replace HVAC filters, and run HEPA air purifiers throughout your home. Even with effort, some highly allergic buyers may choose to pass on your property. Focus on attracting the broadest possible audience by eliminating odors and visible pet traces completely.

What are tips for selling when I own birds or reptiles?

Remove cages, terrariums, and aquariums during showings. Their presence signals pet ownership just like dog beds or litter boxes. Address any odors from bedding, food, or waste, and ensure proper ventilation keeps your home smelling fresh. Birds in particular can leave droppings and feather dust that require extra cleaning attention.

How can I reduce outdoor pet odors quickly?

Hose down concrete patios and walkways, refresh or replace mulch in dog runs, and apply enzyme treatments to grass and soil where pets eliminate. Pick up waste daily during your listing period. Even small amounts contribute to odors buyers notice when touring your yard.

What if the neighbor's dog is noisy during showings?

Schedule showings during times when neighboring pets are typically quieter, like midday rather than early morning or evening. Run white noise machines or play soft background music inside to buffer external sounds. If buyers comment on noise, acknowledge it honestly and note that activity levels vary throughout the day.