Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale | Homes for sale in Rochester, NY, LOCAL Rochester real estate listings, market data, REALTOR® info, and high quality content updated every 15 minutes! Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:50:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cropped-SITE-LOGO-512-x-512-1-32x32.png Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale – Rochester Real Estate | LOCAL Homes For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com 32 32 June Home Maintenance Checklist: 40+ Must-Do Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-home-maintenance-checklist-summer-prep/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20501 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
May Home Maintenance Checklist: 30 Essential Tasks to Prepare Your Home for Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20484 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
April Home Maintenance Checklist: How To Prepare Your Rochester NY Home For Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/april-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20364 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
March Home Maintenance Checklist: Get Your New York Home Ready for Spring https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=20338 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Buy a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buy-a-house-in-new-york/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19906 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Sell a House in New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-a-house-in-new-york/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19905 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Risks of Buying a Non-Warrantable Condo In New York: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/non-warrantable-condo/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19796 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Builders Should Know About Spec Construction Loans In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/builders-spec-construction-loans/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19795 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Moving To The Finger Lakes Region Of New York | Guide To Relocating To The Finger Lakes https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-to-the-finger-lakes-region/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19875 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Navigating the Numbers: The Pros and Cons of Using Online Home Value Estimators For New York Real Estate https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-online-home-value-estimators/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19794 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Role of Location in Home Valuation In New York https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/role-of-location-home-valuation/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19768 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Lowe’s vs U-Haul: A Review of Truck Rental Companies https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/lowes-vs-uhaul/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19758 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Understanding the Importance of a Seller’s Property Condition Disclosure https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/property-condition-disclosure-statement/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19632 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What are Delayed Showings and Negotiations in Real Estate In New York? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/delayed-showings-negotiations/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19547 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
8 Viable Tactics to Selling Your Home and Moving Out of State https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-moving-out-of-state/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19542 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Unconventional Methods for Selling a House: Thinking Outside the Box https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/unconventional-methods-for-selling-a-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19519 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Should I Sell My House Off Market: Pros and Cons Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/sell-house-off-market/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19503 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What is PITI and How Does It Affect Your Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-is-piti/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19498 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How To Set A Home Renovation Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-renovation-budget/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19490 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How Does A Co-Borrowers Credit Scores Affect A Home Purchase? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/co-borrower-credit-score/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19474 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
New Construction Final Walk-Through Checklist: Ensuring a Seamless Home Inspection https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/new-construction-final-walk-through/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19458 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Essential Tips for Pumping a Septic Tank: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pumping-a-septic-tank/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19450 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Can You Submit Multiple Offers On Homes At Once – A Legal And Ethical Analysis https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/multiple-offers-on-homes-at-once/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19414 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Get Your Home Photo Ready for Real Estate Listings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-photo-ready/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19409 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Does a Home Builder’s Warranty Cover? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-builders-warranty/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19394 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
July 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/july-2023-rochester-ny-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19403 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Who Pays Real Estate Commission When You Buy or Sell a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-commission/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19366 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Quitclaim Deeds: What You Need to Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/quitclaim-deeds/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19358 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What to Know About Selling a Home As Is for Cash https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/selling-home-as-is-cash/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19347 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Know if My House Has Paranormal Activity https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/is-my-house-haunted/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19342 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Why Find The History of a House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/find-history-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19316 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
June 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/june-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19313 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-lawyer/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19181 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
May 2023 Greater Rochester NY Area Real Estate Market Update https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/may-2023-rochester-ny-area-real-estate-market-update/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19162 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What to Know About Buying a Home For The First Time https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-home-first-time/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=19058 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
<strong>What Should a Buyer Look For at a Home Inspection?</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-look-for-home-inspection/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18983 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Companies That Buy Houses For Cash Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/companies-buy-houses-for-cash/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18889 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Does Home Staging Work and What is The Cost? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/does-home-staging-work/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18814 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What to Avoid When Getting a Mortgage https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/avoid-when-getting-mortgage/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18797 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
<strong>5 Options For Replacing a Roof Reviewed</strong> https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/replacing-roof/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18771 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Are Restrictive Covenants in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/restrictive-covenants/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18714 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Can The Court Force The Sale of Your House in Divorce? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/court-force-sale-divorce/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18693 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Real Estate Agent vs. Broker: What&#8217;s The Difference? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-vs-broker/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18650 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How To Determine Square Feet In Your House For More Accurate Property Estimates https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/determine-square-feet/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18167 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
3 Things That Often Results in a Real Estate Agent Getting Sued https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/real-estate-agent-sued/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18133 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Top 5 Types Of Home Inspections Buyers Should Consider https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-types-home-inspections/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18119 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Pros And Cons Of Rent To Own Homes: What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pros-cons-rent-own-homes/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18104 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
5 Smart Things To Do Before Moving That Will Help Ease Your Transition https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-before-moving/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18084 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Become a Real Estate Agent https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/become-real-estate-agent/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=18071 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Renting A House Or An Apartment: Which Is The Better Option https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-house-apartment/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17871 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The 5 Most Important Factors To Consider When Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-factors-buying-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17851 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Buyers And Sellers Need To Know About An Appraisal Gap https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/appraisal-gap/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17827 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Pros And Cons Of Renting With Roommates – What You Need To Know https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/renting-with-roommates/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17794 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
6 Things You Should Know About Buying Land https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-know-buying-land/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17773 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How Long Should Home Sellers Wait To Respond To An Offer On Their Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-sellers-wait-respond-offer/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=17745 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How To Buy A House With A Low Credit Score https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-a-low-credit-score/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16819 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Things To Consider When Shipping A Car https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/things-to-consider-when-shipping-a-car/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16248 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Home Depot Truck Rentals: What to Know Including Pricing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/home-depot-truck-rentals-what-to-know-including-pricing/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16156 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
16 Things To Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/16-things-to-do-before-listing-your-home-for-sale/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16138 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Biggest Home Inspection Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-home-inspection-mistakes-to-avoid/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16112 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Ability To Buy A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-credit-score-impacts-buying-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16086 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top Winter Home Selling Mistakes | 7 Errors Made While Selling A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-winter-home-selling-mistakes/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16051 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top Winter Home Buying Mistakes | 11 Errors Made While Buying A House During The Winter https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-home-buying-mistakes/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=16013 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Address Change Form Should I Use At The Post Office? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/address-change-form-post-office/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15981 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Does Contingent Status Mean in Real Estate? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-does-contingent-status-mean-real-estate/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15956 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
DIY Renovation Ideas For Your Backyard https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/diy-renovation-ideas-backyard/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15937 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Rent Your First Apartment Guide https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-rent-an-apartment/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15931 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Tips For Selling A Home Virtually https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-selling-a-home-virtually/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15907 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Complete Winter Storage Checklist For Your Belongings https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/winter-storage-checklist/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15885 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Should I Waive My Home Inspection When Buying A House? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-waive-my-home-inspection/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15870 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Biggest Self Storage Companies Reviewed https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/biggest-self-storage-companies/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15836 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Earnest Money and House Deposits Explained https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/earnest-money-house-deposits-explained/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15760 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Moving Mistakes To Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/moving-mistakes-to-avoid/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15568 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top Mortgage Myths | Demystifying Common Home Loan Misconceptions https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-mortgage-myths/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=15102 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes to Avoid https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-mistakes/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14815 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
10 Tips For Adding Appeal To Your Home This Summer https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/10-tips-adding-appeal-to-home-this-summer/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=14237 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Exploring The Merits of Smart Home Technology When Selling a Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/smart-home-technology-selling-a-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13782 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top Frequently Asked Questions From Home Sellers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-frequently-asked-questions-home-sellers/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2424 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
First Time Home Buyer Programs In Rochester NY &#8211; Updated January 2025 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/first-time-home-buyer-programs/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock http://rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=580 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How New Doors &#038; Windows Can Boost Your Home Value https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-new-doors-windows-boost-your-home-value/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13643 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top 5 Things To Know When Flipping Your First House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-things-to-know-when-flipping-your-first-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13574 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Are The Best Mortgage Options for Self Employed Borrowers? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/mortgage-options-for-self-employed-borrowers/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13450 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Top 10 Best Places To See Christmas Lights In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/top-10-best-places-see-christmas-lights-rochester-ny/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=10236 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Are The PROs And CONs Of Multifamily Homes? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-multifamily-homes/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13219 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
What Low-Cost Home Improvements Should You Make Before Selling Your Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/low-cost-home-improvements-you-should-make-before-selling-your-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13114 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
15 Things Millennial Home Buyers Look At While Buying A House https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/15-things-millennial-home-buyers-look-at-while-buying-a-house/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=13028 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How Does A Fence Increase The Value Of Your Home https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-does-a-fence-increase-the-value-of-your-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12995 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
5 Simple &#038; Low Cost Fixes To Make Your Home More Appealing To Buyers https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/5-simple-and-low-cost-fixes-to-make-your-home-more-appealing-to-buyers/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12779 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How To Improve A Homes Curb Appeal In Rochester NY https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-improve-a-homes-curb-appeal-rochester-ny/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12665 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
7 Ways to Create an Energy-Efficient Home While Conserving Your Budget https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/7-ways-create-an-energy-efficient-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12633 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Hiring Movers Vs. Moving Yourself | The PROs &#038; CONs Of Each https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/hiring-movers-vs-moving-yourself/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12592 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Should You Pay Off Student Loans Before Purchasing a Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/pay-off-student-loans-before-purchasing-a-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12531 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Should I Build A New Home Or Buy An Existing Home? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/should-i-build-a-new-home-or-buy-an-existing-home/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=2497 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
Buying A Condo Vs. Renting A Condo | What Are The PROs &#038; CONs? https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/buying-a-condo-vs-renting-a-condo/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12402 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
9 Money Saving Moving Tips | How To Cut Costs When Moving https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/9-money-saving-moving-tips/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12341 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
How to Create a Proper Home Maintenance Checklist https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/how-to-create-a-proper-home-maintenance-checklist/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12300 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
5 Tips For Tenant Screening | How To Weed Out Bad Tenant Applicants https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/tips-for-tenant-screening/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12291 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Best Social Media Blogs For Real Estate From 2017 https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-social-media-blogs-2017/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12045 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Best Home Improvement Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Remodeling https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-home-improvement-blogs-2017/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12044 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>
The Best Mortgage Blogs From 2017 | Advice For Home Financing https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/best-mortgage-blogs-2017/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:55:39 +0000 Kyle Hiscock https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/?p=12043 Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale![/caption] People are fortunate to have an adaptable sense of smell. While something may smell offensive initially, eventually your nose will become less sensitive to the odor so you can go about your life in less discomfort. Unfortunately, this adaptability can cause problems when you are selling your home. Your beloved pets may provide a great deal of companionship and comfort, but they also bring along smells that home buyers are not going to find appealing. One of the things numerous Realtors face when listing homes is letting the seller down easy that their home stinks! This can often times be a very difficult conversation because there are some folks who look at their pets as family members. Can you image walking into someone’s home and telling the wife "hey clean up your husband will ya?  He stinks.” You would probably have a big boot up your butt and be out the door in ten seconds flat! Well there are some people who take offense when you say anything negative about their pet. Sometimes people really need to hear advice they don't want to listen to. What we always need to remember is we go to a sellers home to give our best real estate advice whether they want to hear it or not. A great agent will always be honest with a seller. Homeowners need to understand that pet odors can kill a home sale! I reached out to my friend and one of the top Realtors in Milford Massachusetts, Bill Gassett, to get his take on selling a home with pets. Bill has a lot of experience dealing with real estate clients, as he has been in the business for over twenty seven years. Bill always has excellent thoughts to share so I thought he would be a good choice to speak on this topic. So take it away Bill!
"Kyle thanks for having me speak to your audience about selling a home when you have pets. You are correct in the fact there are not many things that will turn off a buyer quicker than odors in a home. A smelly pet is in fact one of the common discussions I end up having with clients. It is really easy to become immune to the smells around us, especially with pets. Sellers need to understand that pet odors can and do prevent home sales!" [caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignright" width="400"]Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors! Tips to Help Eliminate Pet Odors![/caption] Pet odors can prevent a sale If you want to sell your home for a good price, you are going to have to address the pet odors. Whether you notice them or not you will still need to deal with them. Just ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of the smell in your house. If he or she says it needs to be addressed, it needs to be addressed.

Encourage ventilation – The first thing you need to do is open up the windows and doors and let some air in. It can be hard in cooler months to allow ventilation and still remain comfortable, which can lead to an accumulation of smells in the house. Whether it is hot or cold, let some air in and let some of those bad odors flow right out. This is only a starting point, but important nonetheless.

Remove the offenders – This is one of the harder parts of selling a home when you have pets. The fact is, as long as those pets are given free reign of the house you are going to have odor problems. Once you decide that selling the house is important, you will probably need to restrict the movement of your pets until the house is sold. Some people even keep their pets at a friend's or family member's home to make things easier. In order to make the job of selling your place a little easier I have put together a reference of how to sell a home with pets. You will see a number of tips that will make the whole process a little bit smoother for both you and your animals.

Wash all fabrics – It is sometimes surprising just how many places odors can accumulate. When you really want to clear out the smell it is worthwhile to wash everything that is washable. This means sheets, blankets, pet bedding and even the draperies. If it is washable you might as well wash it. You will be surprised at just how much odor this can remove from your home. Of course, follow the fabric care directions on all your items. Some may need to be laundered or steam cleaned to avoid damaging the material.

Scrub your floors – Any surface that can be scrubbed should be. You don't necessarily have to use a harsh abrasive, but you do want to use some sort of cleaner appropriate to the surface to remove all dirt and dander and possible odors. There are pet odor removers that you can purchase for certain materials. However, you can also just make up a light bleach solution – 1:9 or so – to clean off tougher surfaces like walls and concrete. Use your discretion, just make sure that you clean off all the surfaces in your home – including window sills, molding, floors and counters.

Get your carpets cleaned – How you do this is up to you, but it is worth noting that if you have odor problems it may be best to bring in a professional. Find a carpet cleaning service that will work hard to remove all offensive odors from your carpet and that will tell you honestly if what you want is possible. There may be some areas that are too far gone to be effectively cleaned with a carpet cleaning machine. Have the carpets cleaned and once they are dry, have another person test out the smells and see if they are gone. The Humane Society also has some really good advice on how to tackle pet odors and stains in a home. Make sure you take a look at this terrific reference.

Use an ozone machine - Over the years one of the things I have had great luck with when it comes to removing odors is an ozone machine. Whether it was cigarette smoke or pet odors an ozone machine carefully placed in a home for a few days has done wonders for taking quite a bit of the smell out. You can see how ozone removes odors by destroying the spores and bacteria that cause these tough to remove smells.

Replace what can't be cleaned – Depending on your situation, you may have parts of your home that are simply not cleanable. Pet odors can be quite powerful and persistent and it may require replacement rather than cleaning to truly eliminate them. This is certainly true for carpeting and the pad that is underneath. The pad, more than the carpet, can soak up smells and never let them go. You will want to replace the carpet if this is the case. It is a small expense to make a lot more money on your home. There may also be other parts of the house, drywall and flooring that also need to be replaced. Better to pay a little bit now than lose out on a sale due to unpleasant odors.

Prepare in advance for your move - Once you have done all the dirty work and got your place cleaned up you should be in good shape to let the showings begin. If you have done everything right including pricing your home correctly and hired a great Realtor more than likely success is just around the corner. Soon enough there will be a sold sign in your yard. It is never too early to plan ahead and start thinking about how to move with your pets. While selling a home with pets can be a lot of work, so can the move with them. This is certainly something you want to think about before the moving truck arrives. Make sure you take a look at some of the tips we have put together in order to keep both you and your pets sane!

One of the best pieces of advice you can take from here is that pet odors will kill a home sale for many people that may otherwise like your home. This is driven by the fear that they will not be able to get rid of the pet smells once they own your home. This is something you should be thinking about when getting your home ready for sale. Good luck and hope you enjoyed the advice!
Other Great Resources for Sellers
About the authors:  The above article "Pet Odors Can Kill a Home Sale" was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock).  With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise. We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY. Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.]]>