Start with the obvious signs

Pet beds, food bowls, litter trays, toys and leads are all part of everyday life, but too many of them can make a room look cluttered.

You don't necessarily need to remove everything while you're living in the house. A dog bed tucked neatly into a corner is unlikely to trouble anybody. But for photographs, it's generally worth putting away as much pet paraphernalia as you reasonably can so buyers are concentrating on the room itself.

It's also worth checking for the less obvious signs. Pet hair on furniture, muddy marks around doors and scratched paintwork are easy to overlook when you see them every day.

Be aware of smells

This is probably one of the more difficult things to judge in your own home because we quickly get used to familiar smells.

If you have pets, particularly dogs or indoor cats, ask somebody you trust to give you an honest opinion. Wash pet bedding regularly, keep litter trays clean and deal with the source of any smells rather than trying to cover them with heavily scented products.

A buyer shouldn't walk into a room and immediately be aware that a pet lives there.

Don't forget the garden

Pets can leave their mark outside too.

Before photographs and viewings, check the garden for anything that needs attention. Clear up after dogs, tidy away toys and have a look at worn patches of lawn or areas where pets regularly dig.

As with the inside of the house, this isn't about trying to make everything perfect. You simply don't want something easily dealt with distracting from the space.

What should you do with pets during viewings?

If possible, we'd recommend taking pets out while a viewing takes place.

Not everybody is comfortable around animals. Some people are frightened of dogs, others may have allergies, and even somebody who loves animals can end up paying more attention to an enthusiastic pet than to the property they've come to see.

It's often better for the animal too. Having strangers walking around their home can be unsettling, particularly when several viewings take place over a relatively short period.

Taking the dog for a walk is usually straightforward. With cats and other pets, think beforehand about what will work safely and practically for them.

Let buyers concentrate on the property

You don't need to disguise the fact that you own a pet, and most buyers won't be concerned that an animal lives in the house.

A little preparation simply makes sure that pet hair, smells, bowls, toys or the pet itself don't become the thing they remember afterwards.

The focus should be on your home.