Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prepare for an Open House? (9)

Michael Petruccelli says;  When there are children - Consider propping baby gates open so the walk through the home is easy and flows. Keep in mind when it comes to the home inspection, the inspector will need easy access to the entire home.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prepare for an Open House? (8b)

Michael Petruccelli says;  When there are pets - Repair pet damage. Scratched or urine soaked wood floor, wood trim, walls or carpet should be repaired or replaced.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prepare for an Open House? (8)

Michael Petruccelli says;  When there are pets - It is best that pets are removed from the premises when possible. Also keep in mind that buyers and inspectors on inspection day need access to the entire home, so the garage and the backyard are not a great idea.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prepare for an Open House? (7e)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Consider having the fireplace & chimney cleaned.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prepare for an Open House? (7d)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Install a clean heating A/C filter. Consider having the A/C unit cleaned & serviced especially if it's been a while.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (13)

Michael Petruccelli says; Get well soon. Maintain your animal's health. 

Not only will your pet thank you, but so will your home. A sick animal 
can be extremely damaging (long term) to your carpeting and/or furniture. 

Inspections will note stains on your flooring materials as areas of concern. 

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (12)

Michael Petruccelli says; Ocean views. Check your fish tanks 

frequently for leaking. It doesn't take much to ruin a wood 

floor, or sub flooring under a carpet. Inspections will look 

for water damage under the tank area and again at the next 

level below.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (11)

Michael Petruccelli says; Itching to sell? Does your pet have fleas? You’ll want 

to take care of the issue immediately, especially for your pet’s sake, but you’ll 

also be happy to know that with the help of a specialist, a flea problem can be 

fixed without replacing your carpet.  

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (10)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Urine? You're out! When speaking of pet odors, urine 

probably has to be the number one cause for wrinkled noses. But don’t be fooled 

by claims that painting over the damage is enough to fix and seal the issue. Urine 

stains in carpet can seep down into the carpet pad and even into the sub-floor 

leaving lingering odors that could deter potential buyers. Floors, wood trim, or 

drywall that has been damaged by urine ultimately needs to be replaced. That 

is the only way to truly remove the damage/stains and the resulting odor. 

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (9)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Also, don't forget your air conditioning and 

heating supply registers. Hair/fur absolutely can—and will—affect the 

functioning and efficiency of these systems. But if you've kept a fairly 

consistent cleaning schedule, pet hair in your AC unit can be fixed by 

a professional HVAC company. 

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (8)

Michael Petruccelli says;  SHED no tears. Cats and dogs shed. But a, perhaps, surprising fact? Much of that hair/fur debris commonly ends up under the refrigerator. This is an insurance company documented fire safety issue and shouldn't be ignored. Vacuum under your refrigerator at least twice a year. Also, don't forget your air conditioning and heating supply registers. Hair/fur absolutely can—and will—affect the functioning and efficiency of these systems.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (7)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Nothing to sneeze at. Pets, for some, mean allergies and unpleasant smells. Some buyers’ allergies are so strong that dander in carpets and furniture can cause an attack within minutes and make a walk-through miserable or even impossible. So keep carpets and furniture vacuumed regularly—and let’s not forget about general pet odors. Without going overboard, carpet deodorizing treatments, air fresheners or some strategically-placed potpourri dishes (not where Fido can reach them) should do the trick.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (6)

Michael Petruccelli says; How do you avoid this kind of damage in the first place? Keep your pet’s nails groomed and avoid locking your pet behind a door or in another room while you entertain guests,or leave the house for long periods of time. Give your dog chews and reward him for good behavior. Give cats carpet pieces or scratching poles.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (5)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Another common condition is scratched window screens. They can be repaired as well, but replacement is probably the best way to go if you’re looking to impress buyers with your home. 

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (4)

Michael Petruccelli says;  A home inspector will note any damage 

to components (doors, floors, weather stripping, screens) if it 

affects the overall function of any system within the home.  

Luckily, scratches on hardwood floors (or the cabinet 

door where you keep Fido’s treats) can easily be fixed with 
a good sanding and finish, but the damage, if left 

untreated, can completely draw attention away from the 

beautiful wood features in your home.

Michael Petruccelli asks; How do you prevent your pets from taking a bite out of your sale? (3)

Michael Petruccelli says;  Here are some things to keep in mind to make sure your furry little friends don't get in the way of a sale! Is Fido taking a bite out of your sale? Dogs and cats in particular like to scratch and chew. Nervous dogs will scratch doors, floors, door frames, walls, carpet and even chew furniture.