Although pets may be a significant part of your family, they can pose a challenge when your home is on the market. Pet hair and odors obviously must be addressed, but your furry friend’s presence may be the biggest problem. Although people love their own dogs and cats, they may not like others and they definitely will not be impressed with a property full of other animals’ noises, toys or hair.

Have a good plan in mind for dealing with your dog or cat before potential buyers come inside your home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Clean, Clean, Clean!
Vacuum every day to keep the place spotless. Keep animals toys packed away and take down the big scratching post. Pack up the cages and carriers. Put food and water bowls out of sight before a showing. Remember the outside, too, and be vigilant with the pooper scooper while your house is on the market.

The Nose Knows
Smelly pet odors are bad and cat urine is the worst! Cat boxes and puppy pads must be put away before showings and kept super clean the rest of the time. Even a leaking fish tank can create an unpleasant stink. Don’t think that an air freshener can cover the scent — get rid of the smell with an enzyme cleaner.  Nothing will turn buyers off more quickly than bad smells and pet mess.

Repair Pet Damage
Carefully inspect all floor coverings.  You made need to hire a professional to get rid of the worst spots and stains. If you can’t fix the spots, replace the carpet. Cover scratches on the hardwood floors and doors. If your dog has clawed repeatedly on the back door, the marks will need attention. Has he dug up the yard or chewed on the fence? Be sure to inspect for pet damage thoroughly. If you have a dog house in the back, give it a fresh coat of paint.

Fleas! Fix!
If your pet has fleas, then they are in your home, too. Hire a professional exterminator to kill the fleas and have your pet treated. Fleas in your carpet and furniture will run buyers back out the door and your home will only be memorable to them because of bites on their legs!

Where Should They Go?
If possible, have your pets out of the house during showings. Take the dog to the park for a long walk or even to the office for the day. See if a friend can keep the cat for a few hours. Having pets at the house when buyers are there should be avoided if at all possible.  If not, kennel your pet or put up a temporary pen in the back yard and leave a note asking visitors not to disturb your animals. You will be running a big risk if your pet is roaming the house while strangers are there.

You want buyers to be able to see themselves living in your home. That means helping them see beyond your personal belongings, including your pets. Even a home in excellent condition will likely take a hit in sales value if pet damage and smells are not addressed. Neutralizing your pet’s presence will help you sell your home more quickly and at a competitive price.

Putting your home on the market in December doesn’t sound like much fun. But, before you let your inner Scrooge get the best of your festive spirits, keep in mind that there are some characteristics of the season that might position you for a quick sale.

Deck the halls with a light touch.
Emotion is a big part of home buying and you can capitalize on that this time of year. Go light on all the holiday accents, however. Of course, you can put up a tree. Just make sure it’s not so big around at the base that it dwarfs the living room. You might put a little greenery above the fireplace, but don’t hide the beautiful mantle with everyone’s stockings. Yes, your most favorite nutcracker and Santa figurine can find a cozy spot. Just remember that a little jolly touch will look inviting, but an explosion of red and green everywhere will look cluttered. One person’s “merry” is another person’s “tacky”, so less-is-more with the holiday goodies.

In case you are really sad about skipping some of your usual holiday decorations while your house is being shown, keep in mind that next winter you should be relocated into your new home and your big Christmas village and all the other ornaments will be out again!

Curb appeal is still critical.
The same minimal touch goes for your outside decorating, too. Rein in any Clark Griswold impulses to have the house on your street covered with the most lights this year. A pretty wreath on the door or a string of lights accentuating the shape of the roof line are good choices. A big blow-up snowman… not so much. Another possible plus: a blanket of snow could make your home look like a winter wonderland and you don’t have to spend lots of time getting the lawn and flower beds in shape.

You need to have a knock-out online listing.
The majority of shoppers look online to check out listings and plan which to see in person. During the winter months, bad weather makes this especially true. You want your agent to make sure your home shows great online with excellent photos of beautifully staged rooms. If possible, include a spring or summer photo of your home so buyers can see what it looks like during another season. Including a video tour with your listing is a big plus for potential buyers who can’t get there in person during a snow storm.

Competition during the holidays is less fierce.
Lots of people are reluctant to sell their homes during this time of year, so the housing inventory is smaller. That may make it easier for you to get top dollar for your sale. Additionally, if someone is house hunting during the holidays, they are likely more motivated than usual. If your prospective sellers are willing to alter their holiday plans and go out in cold weather to look at properties, they are probably doing so because of a job transfer or something similarly compelling them to move in December or January.

Create a holiday-friendly schedule for showings.
If you are travelling during the holidays, showings are easy. Keep the heat on so the house hunters are happy, and enjoy a little peace of mind that your home will be checked on while you are away. When you’re home, set black-out dates so you can enjoy holiday company and celebrations. Your agent will help you with this if you let him/her know your preferred schedule for showings. It’s okay to have limited availability this time of year. People will understand.

It may look like a tremendous hassle, but selling your home during the holidays can be a stress-free experience if managed well. Partner with your agent to meet scheduling and staging goals and hope for a quick sale. If not, there’s always next year, right? And New Year’s Eve is only a few weeks away!

Selling your house can be both exciting and emotional. You may be looking forward to a great change with a move to a new town or a larger house, but you are leaving a home full of treasured memories. Although you have strong attachments to your home, it’s important put aside sentimental feelings and make this sale one of your smartest business moves. It pays to do your homework upfront in order to sidestep the most common seller mistakes. Think carefully about each of these pitfalls to avoid frustration for you and your family, and save thousands of dollars.

Mistake #1 – Trying to Sell Your Home before It’s Physically Ready
Don’t rush when making necessary repairs and cosmetic upgrades before putting your home on the market. You will lose money if you don’t make repairs ahead of listing your house thereby letting prospective buyers see the home’s faults. You are nearly guaranteed that offers will be lower, and the buyers will want credit back for work that still needs to be done after your property is listed.

Mistake #2 – Hiding Your Home’s Flaws
Trying to cover up serious problems like foundation issues, water damage, or mold can come back to haunt you. Don’t try to keep your home’s history a secret from the buyers. They will likely be discovered during the home inspection, and you could lose the sale. Also, if hidden problems surface after the house is sold, you could be faced with a messy legal battle. Be upfront with both your listing agent and your buyers.

Mistake #3 – Selling Your Home Without a Professional Real Estate Agent
Statistics show that homes without representation remain on the market longer and end up selling at a lower price than those listed with a professional. Your agent will help you price your home, research comparable properties, market and show the property, deal with the buyers and their agent, and help you negotiate the mountain of documents that goes along with a house sale.

Mistake #4 – Setting an Unrealistic Price on Your Home
Even in markets where inventory is tight, sellers need to be careful about overpricing their home. Properties that are priced too high frequently end up selling for less than they would have if they had been priced appropriately from the start. Pricing a home to sell is an art. You must look at comparable sales in your immediate area, as well as market movement, demand, location, and your home’s condition. Sellers who are forced to lower their asking price after their home has been on the market for several weeks lose their competitive edge in final negotiations.

Mistake #5 – Marketing with Bad Photos
Over 90% of buyers begin their search online, so your photos make the first and lasting impression. Make sure you and your agent post excellent photos to show off your property and its best features. Too many homes are shown with poorly framed, crooked photos of cluttered rooms. No appeal there! This is an easy one to get right, so be sure to nail it.

Mistake #6 – Refusing to Negotiate
Although your home has a lot of sentimental value to you and your family, it must be regarded as a commodity once you put it on the market. Put your emotions aside and be ready for reasonable negotiations. You need to start with a fair and realistic price on your home, but you should also build in a little elbow room. Many buyers will offer an extremely low-ball price just to see what the response will be. Of course, they want to pay as little as possible, and they want to feel like they got a great property at a bargain price. You can keep the buyers happy by accepting a bit less than your asking price, while still making the profit you need. An experienced real estate agent is an invaluable asset for negotiating the tricky path of getting your price without scaring off the potential buyer.