So it’s time to sell up and move on, but you’ve shared your home with your best furry/scaly/fluffy pet pals for years and you’re now immune to the smells and scratches left all over your beautiful home. Getting your home ready to sell is a big job, but having pets needn’t make that job any harder – you've just got to know how to get your home ready for viewing so that your pets don’t steal your house’s thunder.

Here are a few tips from your friends at Agreed to make your home less poochy and more palatial...

1. Maybe your most crucial step towards selling your home when you have pets is to understand that not everyone is going to love them as much as you do. First impressions count, and that starts from the very first-time buyers look at the particulars of your home. If you’re prepping your own photos via the Agreed portal, it would be a good idea to remember to remove the evidence of animals when taking your snaps. Just simple things like lifting dog bowls out of shot, or removing the dog bed from the kitchen will make your home easier on the eye.
   
   
2. Whenever you are prepping your home for sale, it’s so important to take a step back and try and look at your house as if you were seeing it for the very first time. This goes to another level when it comes to pet households. It’s time to come to your senses – literally. Give your home a good sniff test – you may be used to those unavoidable pet smells, but you need to make sure you freshen up the carpets and get some air flowing, so the place smells peachy for visitors. Be honest with yourself, if you think there are any lingering smells on your furniture or carpets, it may be worth investing a little bit in new replacements, or at least a good professional clean.
   
   
3. The same goes with getting a fresh pair of eyes on the place. Make sure you really notice if you’re house has weathered a few pet problems – has your sofa taken a good scratching from your feline friends, or maybe your doors are a little scuffed? There are some easy home remedies that you can do yourself to make sure your house is looking pristine for people coming to look round, so just give yourself a little bit of time to sort any minor repairs.
   
   
4. Cleanliness is next to dog-liness. You know what we mean! As with getting any house ready for sale, your home needs to be sparkling clean. When you live with animals, we suggest taking this up a notch. It’s time to deep clean. Get your carpets cleaned and de-furred. Take a really good look at anything at pet level – skirting boards, doorways, that cosy spot on your sofa that your hamster Kevin loves to snuggle in. Then roll up those sleeves and scrub, wash and de-fluff.
   
   
5. We think it’s also worth talking about unusual pets. When you have viewings no matter what the pet, it’s probably best to relocate them for the duration of the viewing. It’s important to think about the ‘ick’ factor. You may love your pet python, but that could be enough to put someone off a sale – can they go on a little holiday for the duration of your viewings? Investing in a short period of time putting your pet in boarding could really pay off in the long run.
   
   
6. Once the inside of the house is sorted, don’t forget to have a gander at your garden and check it for signs of pet wear and tear. Make sure everything looks clean, safe and family friendly, so your garden is a haven for anyone and everyone. If you can’t get rid of any large outdoor pet furniture (kennels, coops etc), make sure you let any potential buyers know that they will be removed before moving day.

With 59% of UK households owning a pet, the good news is that potential buyers will be used to viewing houses with pets, and may even be able to envision their own pet in their prospective new home. That being said, you want your house to be marketable as possible to as many people as possible, and that means stashing away your pet paraphernalia for the foreseeable, until you’re safely under offer and ready to make your very own move.