Home Staging + Pets: A Few Tips Before Listing Your Home

If you have pets, let me start by saying this...

I'm a pet lover too. 🐾

I know they're part of the family, and I would never expect anyone to feel otherwise. But when your home goes on the market, it's important to remember that you're no longer preparing it just for yourself, you're preparing it for every potential buyer.

And the truth is, not everyone feels the same way about pets.

Some buyers have allergies. Some are sensitive to pet odours. Others simply don't have pets. The goal isn't to hide your furry family member, it's to remove anything that might distract buyers from seeing the home itself.

Here are a few recommendations I always share with pet owners before staging and showings:

Be mindful of the staging inventory.

Staging furniture and décor are brought into your home temporarily and should be treated with extra care. If your pets are used to jumping on sofas or lounging on rugs, I recommend removing or covering certain staging furniture, rugs, or decorative pieces while you're living in the home. It's a simple way to help protect the inventory and avoid unnecessary wear or damage before your home sells.

Put pet items away.

Food and water bowls, litter boxes, pet beds, crates, toys, scratching posts, and training pads are all part of everyday life, but they don't need to appear in listing photos or during showings.

Eliminate the little reminders.

Pet hair on furniture, nose prints on windows, lingering odours, and even cleaning up the backyard are small details that buyers notice more than you might think.

Have a plan for showings.

If possible, arrange for pets to be out of the home during photography and showings. It's less stressful for them, makes buyers feel more comfortable, and allows everyone to focus on the home.

My Final Thought

Selling a home doesn't mean pretending your pets don't exist, it simply means presenting your home in a way that appeals to the widest range of buyers.

A little preparation goes a long way, and these small steps can make a big difference in helping buyers picture themselves living there.

Your pets will always be part of your home. For a little while, it's okay to let the house be the star of the show.