Friends were staying at the weekend and one commenetd what are you goign to do about the cats when people view the house? And I said what do you mean? She said well they are so many of them and they are annoying (not phrase she used but can't remember it know). I have four and that means that there is less than half a cat per room but just wondered would cats put you off a house? I know I'm an extreme but I tend to look beyond the furniture and the decor to see what the house could be, whereas I know most people are affected by what they see.

Mmm it wouldn't put me off if it was my dream house. I would feel like I would need to 'clean' it thoroughly though, ie carpet cleaners etc, even though rationally I know it will be clean. Which is silly as I have a dog but it would feel a bit tainted iykwim? I hope that hasn't offended people, its all in my head, animals=dirt etc. like I said, I have a dog so would feel the same with dogs too. Or rabbits for that matter.

It would make me think twice but only because I am allergic and I would need to get someone in the carpet clean etc.

TBH Missus S my brother said the same thing that eh thought my SIL would think. For her it would put her off the house because there ahd been cats there. It amazes me because I'm the other extreme.

I'd be distracted shooing the horrible things away so wouldn't view the house properly. But then if it was my dream house I woulnd't let it put me off and would trust my H to see past them

I have a cat so don't hate them. But my SIL is allergic so it would distract her from a house. If there are four and if any have long hairs I'm sure it would put her off because getting rid of the hairs is so hard.

What I dislike about my own cat and would put me off (even though I know I'm not buying it) is unclean litter trays out and the smell of bowls of food around the house. I don't like this smell in our house, never mind someone else's.

Are houses shifting at all in your area though? When we tried to sell a few years ago we couldn't shift my H's old place for love nor money - because people just weren't looking/buying. We waited 6 months, tried again, and got a buyer the first day it was on the market. Things had just picked up in the market a bit. We had thought about making improvements as the bathroom and kitchen were old but worked OK but the estate agents advised against it.  I suspect that no-one will be looking this side of Christmas but things normally pick up again in the spring. (I know you are under pressure to sell).

If it was my dream house then it probably wouldn't put me off but like Kat said, I wouldn't be viewing properly because I'd be wary of them and I can't stand the smelly litter tray or food bowls on the floor.

Honestly? I wouldn't be able to view the house as I'm so scared of cats that I couldn't happily walk round each room, I'd be too worried a cat was going to come out on me. I know that's so daft but they really frighten me. I try so hard not to make a big deal of it but if I knew there was 4 of them in a house I would stay for such a short time that I wouldnt take any of the houses good points in as I'd be so distracted by wondering where the cats were. I'm sorry, I'm weird I know!!

My plan was when viewers came out the cats would be out of the house, also food bowls woudl eb put away. I asked the friend what she thought of the smell in one room and she said it smelt like sherbet in this aprticular room - I then explained that is the room with cat litter in. They are all short haired.

I think it would ahev been a lot more difficult with the dog that we had in the hosue to be able to sell it.

So tbh if people ahet cats there's not going to eb anything I can do about it is there?

Could they be put in carry cages in the car whilst you have viewings? If you feel it might affect them?

Cedar

Are houses shifting at all in your area though?

Yes and no. On out estate house normally sell within a couple of months of being on the amrket, one opposite us was only on for three weeks and it sold. However I haven't had any viewings yet

Missus S

Could they be put in carry cages in the car whilst you have viewings? If you feel it might affect them?

Nope that would eb ratehr extreme - I'm just going to kick them out in the garden[laugh[

If you can put them outside then definitely do it, and put away any signs of them. As others have said wouldnt put me off dream house but I dont like seeing food bowls and litter trays

As it would put some people off, I would try to hide all evidence of them as you want to appeal to as many people as possible.

It's worrying that you haven't even had any viewers yet though, what does the estate agent say? Is it the price?

I can handle one cat but if there were a few around whilst we were viewing a house, it'd be a bit off putting for me as the give me the creeps! That said, it wouldn't put me off the house if I loved it but I would probably need to arrange for it to be professionally cleaned perhaps before moving in just because I'm funny like that.

snow white

If it was my dream house then it probably wouldn't put me off but like Kat said, I wouldn't be viewing properly because I'd be wary of them and I can't stand the smelly litter tray or food bowls on the floor.

EWSWS.

I'd be the same with dogs too though. *Not a pet person*

Was the house opposite on the same time as yours was?  Markets can change quite quickly, depending on the timing and whether people are looking.

The ones near us that have sold are normally those that are on at a competitive and realistic price. A house round the corner sat on the market for months because it was on at nearly £70K or so more than most houses go for. It had been done up inside (hence the price) but it was just overpriced. Whereas my next door neighbours house sold in the same period because she was more realistic about the price.

But at the moment you'll have fewer people looking because no-one wants the stress at Christmas time and they're too busy to to out and look at weekends.

Buying and selling is a pig and I know you've been forced into it which doesn't help.

Cedar

Was the house opposite on the same time as yours was?

Yes but it was an entirely different house - only three ebd as opposed to five bed. The estate agent is surprised. My house is very unusual in this aprt of town.