Showings with Pets Guide

If you have pets, selling your home requires some extra planning. It is a common situation — most households have at least one pet — and it is completely manageable with the right approach. The goal is to make sure every buyer who walks through your door has a clean, neutral experience without worrying about animals.

Some buyers love animals. Some are allergic. Some are afraid of dogs. You do not know who is coming to your showing, so the safest approach is to make your home feel like a pet-free environment during every visit.

The Best Option: Remove Pets Entirely

If at all possible, take your pets with you when you leave for a showing. This is the simplest and most effective approach. No barking, no nervous cats hiding under beds, no allergy concerns. If you can bring them along when you leave — great. If that is not feasible for every showing, consider asking a neighbor, friend, or family member to help out.

If Removal Is Not Possible: The Crate Option

If your pet cannot leave the house during a showing, a crate in a low-traffic area is the next best option. Place the crate in the garage, laundry room, or a secondary bedroom — somewhere a buyer will pass through briefly rather than linger.

Cover the crate with a lightweight, breathable blanket. This keeps the pet calmer and prevents buyers from making direct eye contact, which can trigger barking or anxiety in some dogs. A calm, quiet pet in a covered crate is far less disruptive than an anxious one pacing or barking.

Never Leave Pets Loose in the Backyard

This comes up more than you would think, and it is important: do not leave dogs loose in the backyard during a showing. A buyer's agent opens the back door expecting to see the patio, and instead they are face to face with an excited or territorial dog. It is a safety concern, a liability issue, and it prevents buyers from seeing your outdoor space — which is a selling feature you want them to experience.

Address Odor Proactively

Here is the thing about pet odor: if you live with it every day, you probably do not notice it. Buyers will. Pet odor is one of the most common negative impressions buyers report after showings, and it can be a dealbreaker for some.

Before you list, consider having carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned. If you have hardwood floors, a deep clean and deodorizing treatment can make a significant difference. This is not about covering up smells with candles or air fresheners — buyers see through that. It is about genuinely eliminating the odor at the source.

Reduce Visible Pet Clutter

During the listing period, minimize the visible evidence of pets throughout your home:

• Pick up food and water bowls before showings
• Store pet toys, beds, and blankets out of sight
• Move litter boxes to the garage or a hidden area
• Clean up the yard — no one wants to navigate a minefield
• Vacuum furniture and remove pet hair from visible surfaces
• Wash or replace any pet-stained areas if possible

The Takeaway

Pets are part of the family, but during the selling process, the goal is to make your home appeal to the widest range of buyers. Remove pets when you can, crate when you cannot, never leave them loose in the yard, and address odor honestly. A little extra effort here goes a long way toward making great first impressions.