First impressions start in the backyard
When you're selling a home, every detail counts. Buyers make up their minds quickly, often in the first few minutes of an open home or while scrolling through listing photos. For dog owners, that first impression can be shaped by things you've stopped noticing: a worn lawn, a faint smell at the door or a trail of muddy paw prints on the deck.
None of this means you need to hide the fact that you have a dog. Plenty of buyers love dogs too. But presenting the property at its best means making sure the dog's impact isn't the first thing people see or smell. Here's how to get a dog owner's home ready for sale.
Does having a dog affect selling your house in NZ?
It can, if the signs are obvious. Buyers who notice pet smells, damaged lawns or scratched doors may assume there's more hidden wear, and some will factor that into their offer. Allergy sufferers and people who don't own pets may be put off entirely.
On the other hand, a well-kept home with a secure, tidy yard can appeal to the many New Zealanders who own dogs. A fenced section with healthy grass is a selling point for families with pets. The goal is to show off the outdoor space, not the evidence of who has been using it.
How do you prepare the yard for listing photos?
Listing photos are taken once and seen by every buyer, so the yard needs to look its best on the day.
- Scoop the entire yard thoroughly a day or two before the photographer arrives
- Mow the lawn after the scoop, not before
- Fill holes from digging and reseed or patch bare spots in advance
- Remove kennels, toys, bowls and leads from view
- Clean the deck, patio and outdoor furniture
- Tidy garden beds and replace any plants the dog has damaged
Lawn repairs take time, so start early if you can. Reseeding brown patches several weeks before listing gives the grass a chance to recover. If time is short, a thorough clean and a fresh edge on the lawn still makes a big difference.
How do you get rid of pet smells before an open home?
Smells are what buyers remember most. Because you live with them every day, it's easy to miss them, so ask a friend without a dog to be honest with you.
Outside, focus on the toilet areas, paths and decks. Remove all waste, hose the area thoroughly and use an enzyme cleaner or sanitising spray on hard surfaces. Inside, wash dog beds and blankets, vacuum and clean carpets and soft furnishings, and air the house well.
On open home days, take the dog out if you can. A friend's place, daycare or a long walk keeps the house calm and avoids accidents. Do a final check of the yard just before people arrive.
What should you fix before selling a home with dogs?
Repair the visible signs of wear that buyers will notice:
- Scratches on doors, door frames and floors
- Chewed skirting boards, fence palings or gates
- Damaged flyscreens or pet doors
- Stained carpet or flooring
- Holes in the lawn and gaps under fences
Small repairs are usually far cheaper than the discount a buyer might ask for. Real estate agents often have a list of tradespeople who can help quickly.
Keeping the yard ready during the campaign
The challenge doesn't end with the photos. During a sale campaign, the yard needs to be ready for every open home and private viewing, sometimes at short notice. With a dog still living there, that can mean scooping before every visit.
A regular cleaning schedule through the campaign takes the pressure off. It keeps the lawn clear, the smell under control and the property looking the same as it did in the photos, without a last-minute scramble.
We know how much a single thorough clean can change a section. On one Wellington property, a first visit cleared the front, back and driveway of build-up, and the regular visits since have kept it under control in a fraction of the time.
The Wellington real estate agent had called us in two days before an open home after noticing the back yard of a new listing had months of build-up from the owners’ dog. We cleared and sprayed it the next morning, and the open home went ahead on a clean, fresh-smelling section.
Should you mention the dog when selling your house?
You don't need to hide the fact that you have a dog, and in many cases it's better not to try. Buyers who own dogs will be looking for a secure, fenced yard and a home that suits pets, and a well-presented property can play to that.
What matters is presentation. Keep pet beds, bowls and toys out of sight during photos and open homes, so buyers can imagine their own life in the space. Make sure the yard is clean and the house smells fresh, and let the fences, gates and lawn speak for themselves.
Your real estate agent can help you decide how to describe the outdoor space in the listing. Phrases like "fully fenced" and "secure backyard" appeal to pet owners without making the property feel like it belongs to the dog.
If you're moving out before the sale, consider a final clean of the yard once the dog has gone. It's the easiest way to make sure buyers and the new owners see the section at its best.
Ready for sold
Selling a home with dogs is very achievable with a bit of preparation. A clean yard, a fresh-smelling house and a few small repairs help buyers picture themselves living there, dog or no dog.
If you're a real estate agent or homeowner in Wellington, the Hutt Valley or Porirua getting a property ready for sale, PooPals can do a thorough pre-listing clean and keep the yard ready through every open home. We sanitise and deodorise, take the waste away and send dated before and after photos.