Would these things put you off from viewing/buying a house?

[howdyetti]

In the process of selling our home and have an estate agent coming over to take photos tomorrow. There are a couple of things that DH and I disagree on, so your opinions would be much appreciated!

Firstly, we have a miniature dachshund (sausage dog) and have read that we should remove any traces of having a pet for photos/viewings such as dog bowls etc, which is no problem. The house itself is kept spotlessly clean so I don’t believe it shows that we have a dog at all. However, we do have a number of (tasteful!) dachshund related things around the house such as a framed piece of artwork from John Lewis, Emily Bond sausage dog bedding on two of the beds, a door mat, coasters etc. DH thinks that leaving these things around will put people off when it comes to viewing the house as it would look like we are crazy dog people with a potentially dog smelling home! The house is painted white throughout and all neutral furnishings, very minimalistic. I really don’t think it necessary to remove these things?

Secondly, though our house is only 15 yrs old it was rented before we bought it 2yrs ago and was in need of a lot of TLC. We had to strip everything out and redecorate. It’s a large 5 bed over 3 floors and 3 of the bedrooms aren’t used. Whilst they’ve been decorated, furnished and have had blinds fitted, we never got around to having light fittings or a light shade in those spare bedrooms. DH thinks that having the bare light cable hanging down will look off-putting in our Rightmove photos. At the moment we are saving every penny towards our next home and this seems like an (albeit small) unnecessary expenditure when we have already spent so much on the home. AIBU to think that surely these little things won’t put prospective buyers off, or am I the one who has it wrong?!

I wouldn't care about the dog but the lack of light fittings would be an issue

A few cheap light shades shouldn't break the bank in your position; think Ikea even.

1. ask someone honest to let you know if your home smells of dog! No need to change your decor though

2. yes definitely buy cheap paper shades

I wouldn't worry about the pictures so much but I would get some light shades. You can get them at a charity shop if budget is tight.

Remove dog bowls and beds but the other stuff is OK. Buy lampshades.

Dog issue - i would remove pet food and pet beds ect. ''we do have a number of (tasteful!) dachshund related things around the house such as a framed piece of artwork from John Lewis, Emily Bond sausage dog bedding on two of the beds, a door mat, coasters etc'' I'd leave the bedding and the framed pic, but hide away the other bits.

I'd go to The Range or a pound shop and get something simple to hang on the ceiling lights.

I don't think the sausage dog things will matter very much as people without a dog may own them, but maybe compromise and pop the coasters etc away.

The photographs will look a little more polished with a light fitting in place, I would personally buy a few super cheap light fittings - ikea?

Dog-themed decor wouldn't stop me viewing a house (though if it were my house I might have eg sausage dog bedding on one bed rather than two!). Even dog bowls wouldn't put me off - dog smell as I walked in would though, especially if you have carpets throughout.

Bare light cables would put me off more, tbh, because it makes a house look unloved. Can't you put a fitting in with a really cheap IKEA-rype paper shade? Our sellers had those paper shades throughout and I haven't changed them because I like the defuse light they provide as opposed to more traditional shades.

These are £4.
Or ask on Facebook etc if anyone has any you can borrow?

www.dunelm.com/product/ruby-grey-drum-shade-1000084168

I have been put of a house by a room smelling of dog, but I wouldn't be put of by pictures. The lack of light fittings wouldn't put me of if I loved everything else and the price was right. but I think it would be better if you could could get some fittings up. Even if they are cheap fittings, If I saw lack of fittings I might wonder what else isn't finished yet. And if I saw another house I liked equally that did have light fittings I would go for that one instead.

None of those things would put me off.

Can we have a picture of your dog please?

Only thing id be bothered about is dog smell

I'd ask the EA re the nick nack things. When they did our photos they asked me to move the kitchen bowl, draining board and tea towels...something id never given a second thought to!

Sorry, I mean if I were selling, I might keep the dog-related bedding to one bed. I didn;t mean to sound judgey about dog bedding!

Also, just realised it should be diffuse lighting. I know no-one else cares...

I would definitely buy cheap neutral light shades, they don’t cost very much at all. Try FB marketplace, eBay or even Ikea.

The dog stuff wouldn’t deter me.

I agree with your DH, buy some light fittings/shades to dress the room.

I have a dog so wouldn’t necessarily be bothered about the dog but wouldn’t be attracted by the doggy themed stuff either. I agree with snog, ask an honest friend for an opinion on doggy smells.

Your DH is probably right. Light fittings and £3 bobby basic light shades from Ikea in the spare rooms will make them look less of a “project” - buyers think “if it’s really that quick and cheap to sort, why haven’t they done it yet? Are there issues with the wiring/electrics? Can I be bothered with this shit?”
The Dachshund trinkets are probably ok but I would lose the bed sheets and get plain sheets in for the time being. It’s too personal to you to be such a big statement in the bedroom when you want others to imagine the house could be theirs.

Doggy bits wouldn’t bother me as long as the house didn’t smell of dogs.

The light fittings I would definitely sort out if I were you. It just gives the impression of the house needing “work done”

Thanks, really helpful

Dachshunds not an issue. Definitely sort the light fittings though.

The pound shop had paper shades recently 👍

I would make the house as neutral as possible, remove anything to do with the dogs and yes, you need to get some shades.
Maximise every inch of potential.

You can get a paper ball lampshade for less than a pound and all the dog stuff would make me think you have a dog. Wouldn't necessarily put me off but why would you hide the dog bowl and not the dog ornaments.