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Property/DIY

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Original poster

How much would the smell of dog put you off?

79 replies

snarferson · 07/07/2016 18:09

As the title says. How much would the smell of dog put you off a house?

I want to sell my house. A 3 bed semi with offroad parking in an affordable area. The house has just had a make over. New floors throughout. Painted and decorated. Modern kitchen/bathroom/downstairs loo. Large garden just done. Fake grass with patio area and south west facing so loads of sun especially in the evening. No mud.

Only want to move to be nearer family. It's a really nice place to live. I've done it up in the hope of selling.

However I have 2 large dogs and it can smell kennel esq. I get quite embarrassed although I know it's part and parcel of having dogs. It's always kept spotless in hoover and clean daily but the smell just lingers.

Do you think it would put people off? Baring in mind the rest of it is ok? Or am I worrying to much? TIA.

OP posts:

Original poster

snarferson · 08/07/2016 11:01

Dogs go the groomers every month. Hounds have an oily coat that makes the smell. Too much washing = more oils.

I would be honest and say the dogs don't go upstairs. I can't smell them upstairs. I do need a non doggy volunteer don't I.

OP posts:

UnGoogleable · 08/07/2016 11:02

Don't worry OP, your house sounds lovely.

Do all of the above - remove all evidence of dogs, and fill the house with other nice smells - baking in the oven, fresh coffee, flowers, scented candles etc.

If the house is right for someone, they can surely look past a temporary dog smell.

By the way this thread is an eye opener. My sister is currently trying to sell her house, it's lovely but she has 5 dogs who are kept in cages in the living room. And she can't understand why she's had lots of viewings and no offers...... I might show her this thread!

roseteapot101 · 08/07/2016 11:08

it would put me off also i find artificial grass sterile its like how a heavy concreted garden would send me running.But each to their own you may find another dog owner whos looking to buy

Original poster

snarferson · 08/07/2016 11:13

It is an eye opener.
I didn't realise people disliked dogs SO much. I though we were supposed to be a nation of animal lovers.

Concrete would be harder to change than the grass though I think.

OP posts:

flikflaktictac · 08/07/2016 11:17

I would put the dogs out in the garden half hour before you have a viewer and open all the windows to air the house. The weather is fine and assuming the garden is safe they will be fine out there.

EvangelineP · 08/07/2016 11:20

Bath the dogs weekly and they will smell much better for the period you will have viewings. Put down bicarbonate of soda on the floors and area rugs, let sit overnight and Hoover it up once a week. Make sure all dog beds are washed weekly. We have a hound but our house doesn't smell doggy and I do the above once a month. Always a nice trick to bake cookies in the oven just before a showing. Makes the house smell divine.

Ifailed · 08/07/2016 11:33

I don't care if people like the grass or not. I had to get it for practical reasons
I fully understand, but potential buyers may care. I think you need to show that a lawn is a possibility somehow.

UmbongoUnchained · 08/07/2016 11:34

Hopefully you'll be lucky and find people who have dogs as I'm sure they won't mind. But to someone who doesn't have dogs, the smell is very strong. It doesn't matter if they've never been on the carpets or upstairs, the house will still smell of dog. It's just one of those things.

BluePitchFork · 08/07/2016 11:49

I like dogs - but only well behaved ones from afar
but hate the smell and as allergy sufferer wold be concerned about allergens (I know smell is not allergens, but if feels like it)

NarcyCow · 08/07/2016 12:15

I wouldn't be put off, I'd assume it would dissipate over time. I'm allergic so I'd have to do a good clean when I moved in but that's no biggie.

As has already been suggested, make sure all dog-related things (and the dogs!) are out of the house during viewings, open windows beforehand and maybe stick on a pot of real coffee.

Try not to worry about it, it's really not a big deal.

SternlyVoice · 08/07/2016 14:57

We bought a house which had dogs and it did smell doggy. But we removed most of the downstairs carpets, sanded the wooden floors underneath and for those carpets that we kept, we hired a rug doctor. Doggy smell is now completely gone.

We loved the house and it certainly didn't put us off. Don't despair!

MissWimpyDimple · 08/07/2016 15:02

Sorry yes. I probably wouldn't even get through the door.

The only way I would is if I thought I was going to gut the place.

We just aren't doggy people. I know from experience of buying a car with a doggy scent that it's so so hard to get rid of it completely

Chottie · 08/07/2016 17:24

Sorry, I would find the smell of dogs very off putting. I would be thinking about deep cleaning, replacing carpets and underlay and ££££

StiickEmUp · 08/07/2016 18:37

The house we've bought stunk of dog and now dog isn't there it doesn't smell at all!

Dream house - I wouldn't be put off by a smell !

Clayhead · 08/07/2016 18:53

Our house had a dog smell and it's cost us so much to get rid of it, I would never, ever contemplate it again. It's such a distinctive smell, even when we thought we'd done it once the warmer weather came we realised we hadn't.

Original poster

snarferson · 08/07/2016 19:20

Oh dear I'm really on a downer now. Thanks to all those who gave me a bit of hope

OP posts:

dudsville · 08/07/2016 19:23

I've considered buying houses that smelled. I presume that a change of flooring and a deep clean will make it fresh again. Smokers manage to sell their homes and that gets in to curtains and linens and stuff.

HarryPottersMagicWand · 08/07/2016 19:23

It would put me off because I am allergic to dogs and they set my asthma off really quickly even when they aren't there.

We viewed a house, it was very clean and tidy. I couldn't smell dog and didn't even know they had one until I saw a cage in the kitchen (it wasn't in there either) but within 10 minutes I was really wheezy and couldn't wait to get outside. Some houses quite clearly had dogs even when they weren't there and the smell was what I remembered most about those houses. One was awful and I couldn't wait to leave. Some had dog shit all over the garden too which was very off putting (although I doubt very much you would do that!).

Artificial smells also make me feel ill. I have a health condition and one of my symptoms are problems with smells and anything like that gives me a headache and makes me feel really crappy. This wont be the case for most people though.

I would love artificial grass though. I'd have it if it wasn't such a ball ache to do. Keeping out real grass tidy drives me mad as DH doesn't cut it often and it looks scruffy a lot.

SpikeWithoutASoul · 08/07/2016 19:30

Not a dog fan, but seeing as you don't have carpet downstairs, I would assume the dog smell would leave when the dogs did. What could it cling to if they don't go upstairs? Wouldn't put me off.

flikflaktictac · 08/07/2016 20:00

Also make sure garden is free of dog poo! Must be honest I find the thought of fake grass and dog poo off putting, how do you clean it off? At least grass gets mown and regrows.

Original poster

snarferson · 08/07/2016 20:09

Poo gets picked up immediately. They go toilet in a run and only a tiny part goes into the grass. The rest is on the patio. Pressure washed frequently.

Grass gets a spruce up with bio washing powder ever few days though.

OP posts:

FreshwaterSelkie · 09/07/2016 07:25

It wouldn't put me off, op! but I am a dirty dog lover too

I have a left field suggestion for you- what do you feed your dogs? as a big culprit in making dogs smell doggy can be their food. mine are raw fed and it really makes a difference to how much they smell. I can really notice the difference whe they've been at kennels where they are fed biscuits rat here than their raw diet- the doggy smell is much more noticeable.

just a suggestion, I am sure that you will find your buyer, so chin up and good luck!

FoxyLoxy123 · 09/07/2016 08:06

It would potentially put me off and I have dogs. Mine don't smell for the most part and nor does the house. Half the reason we ripped up carpet was because that did make it smell. I'm struggling to understand how the house smells if the dogs aren't in it/don't stink themselves to be honest. I have long coated breeds. I do open doors and windows a lot and love candles, but I don't think that makes a giant impact...

Savagebeauty · 09/07/2016 08:12

I viewed dream house yesterday and until I saw the dog in the garden, wasn't aware they had one! And I have a very keen sense of smell and don't like dogs.
It wasn't allowed upstairs and it was all wood/ tiles downstairs.

Silverstreaks · 09/07/2016 21:32

It's definitely worth looking at their diet.
The more meaty, proteiny and grain free the better. Look for a good quality food. Do some reading around for suggestions. And be careful your dogs aren't being over washed they have a different ph to us and the washing can cause irritation and cause smell.

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