Pets can be such a wonderful addition to our families and lives! When selling your home, however, there are many challenges surrounding our furry friends. A pet owner who is selling their home needs to understand that it will take additional work and preparation to make their home show worthy.

Below are a few tips to remember when preparing your home for showing:

Deep clean your home of odors and stains (have carpets and duct work cleaned)
Pick up your pet's belongings (toys, bedding, litter trays)
Move extra bedding, cat towers, toy bins, into storage
Clean up the exterior of your home of all signs of pets
Repair any indoor damage caused by pets

Another important piece of advice for pet owners is to not restrict showings because of pets. This is one of the biggest mistakes made by sellers when it comes to their pets. Make sure you have a plan of action in place so that your house may be shown. One possible solution is to relocate your pets temporarily. Can they stay with friends or family for a period of time, or maybe go to day-care during the day? Even if these possibilities won't work, at the very least take your furry friends on a car ride while the house is being shown. The last option would be to crate your pets during showings. In addition to making some home buyers uncomfortable, by not placing them in crates you run the risk of your pet escaping or injuring a potential buyer or realtor while walking through your home.

Selling a home with pets can present extra challenges. However by following the above tips and suggestions you will greatly increase the chance of a successful selling experience as well as reduce the stress for yourself and your pets.