“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.” Milan Kundera
Photo of Barney by Richard John Edwards, Photographer. View more of his wonderful portfolio here.
Marketing your home and moving can be tough enough on humans, but it can be even harder on our doggy companions. They don’t understand why their owners are stressed; why they are suddenly being yelled at to keep away from furniture and rooms that were once their domain; and why everything in their familiar environment is changing.
When marketing your home for sale, remember: dogs and Open Homes don’t mix. Yes, I know it’s their home too, but prospective buyers just don’t want to see your dog when looking around your home. Rightly or wrongly, potential buyers may not be dog-lovers like you. They may associate dogs with nasty smells, with fleas, with poor hygiene; and subconsciously, they may mark your house down (or worse, price it down) because of these factors.
Here are Uncluttered Living’s Top 10 moving tips for dog-owners.
Before Open Homes:
- Before Open Homes, remove all signs of your dog. Put his bed, toys and food and drink bowls away.
- Refresh the areas where the dog has been. Vacuum, wash floors and if necessary, deodorise and sanitise floors and carpets.
- Remove your dog from the house during the actual Open Home. A nice long walk in the fresh air will do both him and you a power of good; and you won’t be fretting how things are going with prospective buyers.
When Moving:
- Ensure you’ve updated address and phone details with the microchip and dog licence authorities.
- Have a new dog tag engraved before you move, with phone and address details of the new house, ready to slip on as soon as your dog arrives in his new home.
- Consider removing your dog from your home before the actual move. A few days with a trusted friend or family member, or a brief interlude at your local Pet Resort, will be much less unsettling than the noise, dust and confusion of Moving Day. If your animal IS staying with you during the move, confine him to one secure room while the removalists are there.
- Don’t pack your pooch’s toys, bedding and other equipment until the last moment, so that he can be comforted by the presence of familiar things.
- When travelling to the new home, remember: plenty of walk, drink and toilet stops for your dog. Bring plenty of water, a travel bowl and spill mat in the car, because car interiors can heat up alarmingly.
- Be sure to check fences around the new home; in advance if possible. Get any breaches fixed so your dog can safely run and sniff in his new garden.
- Don’t wash doggy bedding until a couple of weeks after the move, so your faithful friend will retain some familiar smells from the old house.