Much like being a parent, buying a home as a pet owner has some unique considerations. From vetting yard space to make sure the home itself is suitable for you and your pets, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips to help buyers find pet-friendly homes.
Consider Your Buyer’s Pet’s Needs
It’s easy to shop for a home, fall in love with it, and check all of the boxes for our human needs, but one thing to keep in mind when searching for a pet-friendly home for your buyers is that their pets have needs too. Make sure you take their needs into consideration just as much as your buyers’.
If they have a big dog, is there adequate space? Are their pets used to having the freedom to go in and out of the house at their leisure? Is the yard safe and free from dangerous plants and other animals? All of these things are great places to start when considering a pet’s needs. Giving them a safe, warm, and loving environment is just as important for them as it is for us.
Evaluate Potential Hazards
The interior of the home is likely where they will start to fall in love, and it’s also the least likely place that their pets will get into trouble, but nevertheless, evaluate any potential hazards both inside and outside the new home. Far too often, we focus on the hazards that affect our pets indoors without thinking about the ones outside.
Make sure the fence in the yard is secure and can both keep pets in and intruders out. If there are repairs that need to be made, consider working with the seller to make those repairs before your buyers close on the home. Also, be wary of any new foliage that could be harmful to pets, and keep an eye out for water features, pools, or other places pets could get hurt.
Find a Pet-Friendly Neighborhood
Perhaps one of the biggest considerations for pet owners is that they live in a pet-friendly neighborhood. If they are a dog owner, then knowing that the pup can go on a walk without risk of stray animals, wild animals, or other dangers is a major plus. If their cat likes to go out during the day or hunt at night, then make sure the neighborhood is safe for his or her outdoor adventures.
You can get a pretty good feel for a neighborhood by simply walking around. Do the neighbors have pets? Are they in well-fenced yards? Are there any apparent dangers or triggers that could cause harm to pets? These are things to look for and be aware of as you’re evaluating a neighborhood for your clients.
Pet Services
Finally, examine if the services that pets require are available and easily accessible. Veterinary care and access to competent vets is certainly a requirement, but so are pet supplies stores, dog parks, groomers, and the like.
If there is relatively easy access to all of these things and they hit the requirements pets have, then they are likely in the right area. Much like evaluating neighborhoods for pet-friendliness, evaluating proximity to the things your buyers and their pets will need is just as crucial!
