You love your pets. Your neighbors love their pets. That doesn’t necessarily mean your neighbors love your pets. The same goes for prospective buyers considering making your home their new home .

When it comes to pets and show shape for your home here’s a simple rule of thumb: Less is better, none is best. We’re talking about the evidence! A best case scenario would be to have your pooch or kitty stay with a neighbor , friend or relative during showings. Be sure all food and water bowls are picked up and put away. The same goes for toys, kennels, cat boxes, etc. Get them in the garage or outside on the side of the house. Pictures of you and the family pet? Take them off walls and desks and put them in dresser drawers. Then vacuum! Try to minimalize or eliminate any evidence that there are pets sharing your home. Extreme? Maybe. Just remember this doesn’t mean you don’t love your furry friends. All you are doing is removing any hesitation that might come up for a homebuyer upon discovering there is a German Shepherd living in the room where they envision putting their baby nursery.

It’s not always feasible to completely eradicate all signs of pets. Sure you can pick up, put away, clean, vacuum and even shampoo carpets. But what about the animals themselves? If you don’t have another loving home where Fido can take a vacation while your home is on the market , think adventure! Whether it’s you, a neighborhood teenager you trust, or the stay at home Mom or Pop next door, have someone available to step in at a moment’s notice and take your pets out of your house, either for a walk or just a short visit, so buyers can focus on your home and not on your pets.