The Pet Owner's Guide to Buying a Home

By, Lisa Roberts

Trying to find a good home for yourself is complicated enough as it is. When you add a pet into the mix, things tend to get even more complicated. This is, of course, because you have to make sure the home is also suitable for them. Additionally, certain house features, such as carpets, are a very bad idea for pet owners. As such, pet owners need to pay special attention to the home-buying process in order to avoid mistakes. Also, keep in mind that certain animals also need certain conditions to live. To help you out with this, we’ve put together the pet owner’s guide to buying a home, and we hope you find it helpful.

Sturdy flooring

The fact is, pets can do a lot of damage to your flooring, and scratches are extremely common on flooring which isn’t suited for pets. This is because your pet’s fur, claws, and the occasional accident, tend to damage the floor very quickly. As we already briefly mentioned, a carpet is a terrible idea, as it retains fur and odors and gets damaged quickly. Certain hardwood floors are also easily damaged by your pet’s claws. Generally speaking, vinyl flooring is considered the best option for pet owners. It’s both easy to clean and very durable. Additionally, if you’re looking to move into a smaller home, consider how to downsize to a simpler life for you and your pet. The change can be stranger at first, but living in a smaller home can be very beneficial for you and your furry friends.

Distance to veterinarians

The next step in the pet owner’s guide to buying a home is very important. When considering the location of your home, think about how close it is to veterinarians. Your pet getting sick is a very real possibility, and you need to think ahead about it. Especially if you plan on living in a large city with bad traffic, being close to a vert is important. Remember, you never know when you’re going to need to take your pet to the vet. So, think carefully about this before coming to a final decision. Additionally, therapists from brightfuturestreatment.com note that pets are incredibly important in the recovery process of their owners. As such, making sure they’re properly taken care of is vital for anyone relying on their pet for support. Remember, in order for your pet to help you; you also need to be able to help them.

Fenced-in yard or backyard

One fairly important step in the pet owner’s guide to buying a home is taking care of your pet’s needs. This time, in the form of making sure they have enough room to play. To this end, having a backyard for your pet to play in is a very good idea, especially if you have a dog. However, in order for your pet to play safely in the backyard, it needs to be properly fenced in. Otherwise, you run the risk of your pet accidentally making it out of the yard and getting lost. Your pet’s safety should always be at the front of your mind when looking into homes. Additionally, if you plan on moving out of state, consider how to smoothly transition to a new state. This becomes even more important when moving with a pet, as the move becomes much more complicated in general.

Research pet laws and fees

Before you decide on a home, you need to make sure your pet is actually allowed in it. Cities, neighborhoods, and HOAs have varying rules about pets. Additionally, there can be fees associated with pet ownership as well, so make sure you do your research beforehand. This is very important if you want to avoid being blindsided by fees and regulations you’ve never heard of. This step can vary from place to place, as the rules tend to differ greatly between cities. Unfortunately, some of these rules can be deal breakers, which is another reason why it’s so important to research them beforehand. Additionally, if you’re someone struggling with addiction of any sort, keep in mind that pets can help with the process, as the effect of pets on an owner's recovery is substantial. So, if you’re relying on your pet for support, making sure they can be with you in the new home is even more critical.

Take stairs into consideration

If your pet is old or particularly small, it might struggle with getting up and down the stairs. If this is the case, you might want to consider a single-story home. Once again, making sure the home is safe for your pet is just as important as making sure it’s safe for you. Alternatively, if you settle on a house with stairs, consider making the stairs inaccessible to your pet. Limiting their space can be difficult, especially if they’re used to roaming the house, but sometimes it’s needed. Additionally, separating your own space from your pet’s space can be a good idea regardless of whether it involves stairs. After all, sometimes you might need your space, and it’s the only way to make sure your pets don’t interfere. Also, when it comes to buying a house, consider the most common fears buyers face and prepare yourself.

The pet owner’s guide to buying a home – wrap up

When buying a home, it’s important to keep all of your needs in mind when considering a potential house. However, pet owners also need to consider the needs of their pets during the home-buying process. As such, there’s a lot of research and preparation you need to do before deciding on a new home. From the type of flooring to the size of the house, all the way to make sure the house is safe for your furry friends. There’s quite a lot to consider, but it’s not too difficult as long as you know what to keep in mind. We hope that this pet owner’s guide to buying a home helps you out, and we wish you a good rest of your day.

Photos used: https://www.pexels.com/photo/short-coated-tan-dog-2253275/