Caring for Carpets in Pet Households Now Can Help When It’s Time to Sell

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If you have one or more pets, it’s probably an ongoing battle to keep your home looking and smelling fresh. If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, a little care now can improve its appeal when you list it. Prospective homebuyers will certainly be looking at how well the floors and carpeting have been maintained, and their condition can have an impact on the value of your home. Here are three ways you can prevent damage to your carpets from pets.

1. Vacuum and Clean Carpets Regularly
When you own pets, frequent vacuuming is essential. How often you should vacuum will depend on the number and types of pets you have and how much they shed. Vacuuming once or twice a week may be sufficient, or you may need to vacuum every day if your pets have thick fur or are shedding their winter coats. Be sure to vacuum furniture too, so dirt and hair your pets leave behind don’t transfer to your carpets.

You may want to use a powder that you can sprinkle on your carpet before you vacuum. A powder designed especially for pets can help remove dander that’s stuck to carpet fibers, resulting in a deeper clean.

Even with frequent vacuuming, your carpets can benefit from occasional deep cleaning. Steam cleaning can pull up pet dander that’s embedded deep in carpet fibers.

2. Prevent Messes or Clean Them Up Promptly
If you have a pet that goes outdoors, have him or her re-enter the house in an area that isn’t carpeted. Train your pets to let you wipe their feet before they go to another part of the house. This will help you avoid tracking dirt, pollen, grass, etc. all over your carpets.

If a pet leaves waste of any kind on a carpet, clean it up as soon as you see it. Use paper towels to absorb moisture, then apply a product that’s designed to remove stains from the carpet. Follow the directions on the bottle. You may need to let the product sit on the stained area for a few minutes and then remove it in a particular way, by scrubbing with a brush or blotting with a paper towel.

Be sure to brush your pets regularly to minimize shedding, and if you have dogs, bathe them regularly or take them to a groomer.

3. Trim Their Nails
It’s not just dirt and fur that you need to worry about. If your pets have long nails, they can accidentally scratch carpets when they’re running around and playing. They may also scratch carpets intentionally to try to shorten their nails.

Trim their claws on a regular basis. If they get agitated, consider scheduling an appointment with a groomer or veterinarian who is accustomed to working with anxious pets and knows how to keep them calm.

You’d be surprised how big of a difference these preventative steps can make in improving your home’s value.

*Adapted from an article published by RISMedia

This material is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to its accuracy. This material is not intended to be construed as legal, tax or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult your legal, tax or investment professional for specific advice.

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