What to Do With Your Four-Legged Family Members When Selling Your Home

Selling your home in this market is tough enough. What if you have family pets?

Not everyone loves animals. I once had an open house that had a sweet kitty who stayed in the garage. When one prospective buyer failed to read the sign posted on the door—"Kitty in Garage Don't Open the Door—and ran for her life, I thought to myself, "There has to be a better way."

If you have a doggy that you love unconditionally and are selling your home, there are a number of resorces you can turn to. There are doggy day care centers and many veterinarian offices that also have daily boarding care.

Carefully choose a dogsitter. Some take on too many dogs and concentrate on volume rather than care. Find out if the dogsitter is licenced to care for animals in his or her home—and not just in possession of a business licence. Does the person have insurance for the business and is the business bonded?

If the dogsitter uses a dog park during the day, does he or she adhere to the rules? Some parks have a three-dog limit ordnance and dogsitters may alternate dogs, leaving them in a hot vehicle. It's not a good thing for any animal.

Another alternative is a trusted neighbor who knows your pet and who your four-legged family member recognizes as a friend.

Ultimatly the decision is yours. I'm fortunate in that I'm able to bring my dog to my office where she sleeps all day.

If you don't have that luxury, ask your real estate professional for help. They really do know how to help with such a sensitive matter.