Some home buyers can sniff out a home with pets the instant they walk through the door, even after you’ve cleaned it. If you’re trying to sell your home as a pet owner, you’ll need to take the proper measures to make the home feel like a clean slate. Potential buyers will not want to purchase a home that reeks of pets or has a coating of pet hair in every corner. With these handy tips for pet owners trying to sell their homes, disguising the evidence of your pets will be a breeze.

Deep Clean the Entire Home

The first step to preserving the image of a pet-free house is a thorough cleaning. How deep you need to clean depends on the materials that make up the different features of your home. If you have carpeting, it will require special treatment to ensure that they don’t hold odors within its fibers. For old carpet or carpet that has suffered some “accidents” from your pets, consider replacing it before attempting to sell the home. Fabric furniture, such as sofas and recliners, may hold onto odors as much as carpet does. Don’t forget these pieces while you’re cleaning!

Your home’s interior may require an outside opinion from a pet-less friend or family member to sniff out odors that you’ve acclimated to. Before you begin showing off your home to the public, run the house by a second opinion from a non-pet-owner.

Don’t Forget the Backyard

When your pet has free rein over the backyard, they’ll leave plenty of surprises that would be unpleasant for any potential home buyer. Take care of any messes in the yard before your home showing. You want everyone to feel comfortable walking around in the backyard without worrying about stepping on “landmines.” Double- and triple-check the yard for places you’ve missed—being over-cautious is better in this case than under-cautious.

Give Your Pets a Vacation During Showings and Open Houses

Once your home is on the market, buyers may want to see it at any time. One of the more important tips for pet owners trying to sell their homes is that you need to make sure your pet has somewhere to stay to avoid bothering guests. It may even be a wise idea to ask someone to take care of your pets for an extended time right after you prepare the home for selling so that the efforts of your deep cleaning don’t go to waste.

A friend or family member may be willing to take in your precious pets, but if they’re not, you may have to board them until you find a place for them to stay—such as wherever you’re moving. Boarding services, especially dog boarding services, should provide your pet with an enriching stay while you’re busy working on a home sale. Research dog boarding services carefully before trusting them with your canine companions.