Can you sell a dog kennel that is damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on dog kennels
These are the flaws that move a dog kennel down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Rot at the base and around the door
- Perished roofing felt
- Chewed door frames
- Untreated timber that has weathered badly
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £14 to £81. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £8 to £45. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Press the base timbers for soft rot
- Check the roof from inside for daylight
- Measure the internal dimensions
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The whole kennel outdoors, from the front three-quarter, whole
- The interior through the door, showing the floor
- The roof and how far it overhangs the entrance
- The base timbers and any rot, split panel or worn felt
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged dog kennels want these confirmed:
- Internal and external dimensions, and doorway height and width
- Construction material, and whether it is insulated or lined
- Whether the floor is raised, and whether the roof lifts or hinges for cleaning
- Honest condition of the base, felt and doorway
Size and construction: “Large Wooden Dog Kennel, Apex Roof, Raised Floor”. Buyers size by their dog, so give internal dimensions. Insulated and apex-roof are both genuine searches, and a removable roof for cleaning is worth saying.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Give the internal dimensions and let the owner judge. A dog should be able to stand and turn comfortably, and only they know their dog’s measurements.
Answer with the evidence — roof felt condition, overhang, raised floor, whether it has been treated. A general claim of weatherproof means little on its own.
Check and say. It is a real convenience feature and one of the few things that distinguishes kennels of similar size.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Sound, treated timber with no rot
- Intact felt or shingle roofing
- Raised floors keeping the base dry
- Larger sizes for bigger breeds
If the work would cost more than the gap between £45 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Sells from spring through early autumn, with very little demand in midwinter. A sound treated kennel listed in April or May moves within a fortnight.
Getting it to the buyer
Collection, and heavier than it looks — a large timber kennel is a two-person lift and usually needs a van. Give the external dimensions and an honest sense of the weight.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full dog kennel selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged dog kennel?
Yes. A damaged dog kennel typically is worth £8 to £45 against £30 to £180 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Rot at the base and around the door
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is sound, treated timber with no rot — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Give the internal dimensions and let the owner judge. A dog should be able to stand and turn comfortably, and only they know their dog’s measurements. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what dog kennel is worth by condition · how to sell dog kennel · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.