Dog Etiquette in Real Estate: 3 Things Pet Parents Should Never Do

Whether you are buying or selling a home in Boca Raton, there’s some special etiquette required for pet parents. This guide explains.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re the seller or the buyer – there are three things you should never do:

Leave your dog home during a showing
Take your dog with you to a tour
Forget to ask for credits or repairs necessary due to pet damage

Scroll down for a closer look at each.

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Real Estate Dog Etiquette Tip #1: Never Leave Your Dog Home During a Showing

if you are selling your home, you need to take your dog with you every time a prospective buyer comes to tour it. There are several good reasons for this:

Some people don’t like animals
Some people are allergic to dogs
Some people are afraid of dogs
Having a dog around during a home tour tends to make people uncomfortable, even if they do like animals
Your dog could escape when the real estate agent has the door open
Your dog could be hurt or injured
Your dog may not react well to being in your home with strangers when you’re not present
Sometimes people bring children to showings, and sometimes those children haven’t learned how to treat animals

Leaving your pet outside in the yard is also a no-go. Many buyers won’t even go in the yard when a dog is there, but they feel it’s necessary to see it in order to make a decision.

Pro Tip: Make sure you pick up your dog’s messes in the backyard before showings. If buyers do go out there and step in something, they’ll track it back into your home. Even if they wipe their feet very well, stepping in a dog’s business doesn’t tend to leave a favorable impression.

Real Estate Dog Etiquette Tip #2: Never Take Your Dog With You to a Home Tour

Some people want to bring their dogs to tour homes, and on paper, that makes sense. You want to ensure that your dog likes a home and can feel comfortable there before you make an offer. However, it’s poor manners to bring a dog to someone else’s home uninvited. Some people are allergic to dogs, and some people haven’t read this article – and they may not know they shouldn’t be leaving their own dogs home during showings. Not all dogs get along well with others! Perhaps worse, and possibly more embarrassing, what if your dog has an accident in someone else’s home?

Real Estate Dog Etiquette Tip #3: Don’t Forget to Ask for Credits or Repairs Due to Pet Damage

If you find a home you want to buy but notice that there’s some pet damage, don’t be afraid to ask the seller to give you a credit so you can make the repairs yourself. Alternatively, you can ask the seller to take some money off the sales price so you have extra cash in your pocket to make the repairs after you move in. (This counts as etiquette because some people are afraid to negotiate. But in real estate, it’s an essential part of many transactions.) Your real estate agent will be happy to negotiate with the seller’s real estate agent on your behalf.

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Dog Etiquette in Real Estate: 3 Things Pet Parents Should Never Do