Does having a dog bring down the value of a house or make it harder to sell? What can I do?

Question

My wife and I have a black lab (yes, its an "inside dog") and she is convinced that having a dog will bring down the value of the house and make it harder to sell. The house is only 2 years old and we are the original owners of it and it is in great shape aside from some slight repainting that needs to be done. The house doesn't smell "like a dog", but obviously having the lab created more wear on the carpet and we have to vacuum alot but aside from that, is it that big of a deal? My wife wants to give the dog away or get rid of him until we sell the house but I am trying to convince her that its not necessary (and I can't bear to be without my pooch). So if you own a dog and sold your house or if you are a real estate agent (or anybody that has some suggestions) and have some insite, please help!!!

Answer 1

Hi there! We have a black lab too and we sold our townhouse back in July in 2 weeks. Yup, 2 weeks, one showing! We were a little worried about that too, but it obviously had no impact. Here's what I did to keep the place looking and smelling good:
- vacuum the carpets and furniture every day
- dust every day
- use carpet freshener spray/powder
- light some candles before your showings
- use Yankee Candle air fresheners on each floor
- pick up and place all doggy toys in a nice looking basket
I know it seems like a lot of work to do every day, but it'll be worth it when you're home sells! We didn't 'hide' the dog crate either - no need - just make sure you wash it out every day. Also, never have your dog home during showings. We brought our dog over to his grandparents' during showings.

Answer 2

Having a dog in the home only hurts the value of the home if the dog has caused damage or made the home look dirty. Here are some examples.

1. The dog caused holes in the backyard where it digs.

2. The dog chews on items in and outside the home.

3. The dog urinates in or outside causing a foul odor. Even though you think you cleaned it up there is still a lingering odor. Some people who own dogs allow the dog the backyard to use as a restroom.The backyards turn into a mine field (feces everywhere).

4. Dog hair throughout the house. You can vacuum but will never get all of them.

Solution- If you keep the dog you must clean constantly. Vacuum and use air freshners. Try leaving the dog with a family member while you sell your home. You can visit and re-unite with fido when the house sells.

Good luck with the sale.

Answer 3

No. Having a dog will not effect the value of your house. Having damage done by the dog will. If you were planning to sell the property, to get top dollar, you would likely have to replace the carpet, and be sure to tidy the yard if there is damage there (curb appeal is very important to buyers). Having a dog can make the house seem more 'homey' to prospective buyers....there is really no need to get rid of him. Just keep the place clean and in tip top shape and you'll be fine.

EDIT: Just a few tips;
De-clutter the house and pack away any seriously personal belongings (like family photos and the like). It will help the buyer to picture themselves and their family in the home. Put the dog's toys away so they aren't scattered all over when you're showing. It also helps to paint the interior with neutral tones, so if you've got any loud colors on the walls, prime and paint before you show.

Answer 4

we have a lab and a lab mix (both indoor dogs) and sold our house a little over a year ago with no problem.

Make sure that the dog is out when people come to look at the house (if it is not too cold where you live you can kennel him/her in the garage). Make sure the house is clean. We had pergo throughout most of the house, which cut down on doggy smell and carpet wear. make sure all bedding is clean and the dog is bathed frequently to reduce any potential doggy smell.

One big tip...use that sprinkle stuff when you vacuum, it helps freshed the house. Also, clean up any "doggy evidence" in the yard daily so it will look good to buyers.

I would never give up my dog...we bought our last home from a dog owner and sold it to a family with no pets...so it was not a problem for us.

Good luck and keep loving your dog!!

Answer 5

I agree with SueKaven, your wife is looking for an excuse to get rid of your dog. I've had 2/3 dogs all my adult life and have sold several houses without a problem. The dogs were crated in the garage when we had a showing or home inspections. Having to replace carpet and paint is all part of the process of selling. I think it's time to "hang tough", the dog stays because it's not a valid reason to get rid of him. And, by the way, we're in a very bad market right now. Good luck.

Answer 6

Having a dog in and of itself won't keep your house from selling, unless maybe that person who sees it is allergic to dogs. A few major things (important things) I look for when previewing a house for clients:
How are the carpets? and How are the walls?

These are big ticket items that buyers are sure to notice and are kind of expensive if in bad shape.

You said "great shape aside from some slight repainting that needs to be done" and "more wear on the carpet and we have to vacuum alot."

That sounds good to me. Unless the carpet is badly stained or ripped and the walls have holes or a lot of marks, you should be ok.

Don't get rid of the pup, just keep everything clean and when someone wants to see the house put the dog in a crate or somewhere safe because people don't seem to care if they accidentally let your dog out. Good luck!

Answer 7

I just sold my house, on my own (no realtor)...every time I showed the house, all FOUR of my dogs were at home, and we didn't have a problem at all. We sold the house for MUCH more than we were asking for it, so I don't think the dogs affected the value at all.

Things that ARE important when selling your home: it's very UNcluttered, your decorating is current, your furniture is placed in a pleasing manner, your landscaping is attractive and neat, etc. If you're having trouble selling your home, consider asking an interior designer over for a consultation (We can have this done in my area starting at around $75). Don't consider giving up the dog...your dog is not going to prevent your home from selling.

Answer 8

I don't know if you have children, but would your wife send your kids off during the selling process?

It's within your power to minimize the effect that the presence of your lab has on your house. First things first- labs shed a lot. You may choose to vacuum daily to prevent build-up of any kind, which could result in a dog smell. You should also dust frequently because dogs can increase dust build up everywhere. Dust and dog hair builds up in corners, so make sure every corner is checked to ensure 100% cleanliness.

Leave a towel next to the door so you can wipe off your dog's paws upon entering the house.

Unless your lab is destructive in some manner, I wouldn't think he would have a very significant impact on the cleanliness of your house. If he does have destructive behaviors, you could consider crating him while you're not home, or restricting him to one room with baby gates.

He probably knows something is going on and if you had him stay somewhere else before moving, he may not deal as well with the move as he would if he shared the experience with you.

Good luck :)

Add:
I forgot to mention the yard- make sure everything is cleaned up in the yard- that is one thing that could easily turn someone off to the property.

Answer 9

We moved from New York to Virginia several years ago.
We had 5 house dogs. Three inside cats,2 outside cats.
2 ferrets, a guuneapig and birds and it didn't affect our house selling. Teh main probelm we had was putting the 5 dogs up when people came to look at teh house but that was it. Teh realator said it didnt' affect the selling unless you had a very distructive animal that had torn the house apart.
If it has anything but the rug what maybe bring it down at the most a few hundred but I doubt it.
Good Luck and don't get rid of the dog.

Answer 10

I have two Labs and sold my house within two weeks of it going up for sale. I had lived there for 22 yrs and always had Labs, it was clean and tidy and didn't smell so I didn't have a problem selling. There is no reason to turf the dog out because your selling your house.
Do you think your wife might just want to get rid of the dog?


Cookie on my mind, love your picture, really cute.