Buying a home with a pet can be difficult. There are many things to look for and think about to be able to find the perfect home for you and your pet. Some homes don’t allow pets, while others are not suitable for pets. When on the hunt for a home for your family and furry friend, it’s essential to keep an eye out for pet-friendly features. Making sure the home is spacious and the neighbourhood is pet-friendly is essential to ensure your pet’s needs are met.
However, there are many other considerations to be made when choosing the perfect home for everyone. These top considerations for buying a home with a pet will help guide you in finding a home that suits you and your furry friend. Whether it’s your first home or you need to relocate, you can find a home that’s suitable for everyone in the family.
Assess the Garden
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying a home with a pet is the garden. It is essential to have a larger garden, especially if you have a dog. Having a private outdoor space allows dogs to roam around, explore, go toilet and have lots of fun, on top of their walks! Plus, other pets, like cats or rabbits, appreciate having a garden too.
For dogs, you need to see if the garden is fenced off and if it’s sturdy- so your pooch can’t escape! If you can’t find a suitable home that is fully fenced and secure, choosing a partially fenced one or fences that need fixing can be the next best option. This is because you can continue the fence or fix the patches to make sure your furry friend doesn’t escape.
Think About the Size of the Property
It is ideal to look at the available space in the property and think if it’s big enough for your family and your pet. You need enough space for the size and number of animals, as well as how many people will live there. Dogs and cats need enough space to roam, and the bigger the dog or cat, the more space you will need (this also includes how many you have). If they don’t have the space, they can become destructive when left alone. They may turn their boredom and inability to explore the space into bad habits of chewing and scratching furniture and anything else they can find in the home. This is why space is important to prevent this and give them plenty of room. Plus, you don’t want to live in a cramped space with your furry friend and family.
Consider the Layout
As well as the size of the property, you should also consider the layout of the space. This is crucial for keeping your pet comfortable and helping them settle down in the new home. Try to choose an open-plan layout because this provides your pet with more space to roam around freely, exploring the property and getting used to it quicker. You should also look for areas within the layout where your pet can retreat to if needed, so they can feel safe. This can be a cosy, quiet corner or a small room that they can spend some alone time in when it all gets a little overwhelming for them.
If you have a dog, you need to see if there’s easy access to the outdoors, so they can go outside and exercise easily. For cats, try to find high ledges or windowsills in the property as they like to explore and hide. On top of this, you should also assess how close the high-traffic and essential areas are to each other. For example, the kitchen and living room should be quite close together so that your pet can easily get to and from where they sleep and play. Choosing a property with well-defined areas for your pet and their activities makes the moving process smoother, reducing their stress and keeping them safe at all times.
Look for Pet-Friendly Features
When it comes to buying a home with a pet, it’s vital to ensure that both you and your furry friend can live happily, comfortably and safely. To do this, you need to make sure that the property has plenty of pet-friendly features. These features should meet the basic needs of your pet while keeping them safe, as well as protecting your property from potential damage. You should check critical parts of the home, such as the flooring. Try to have hardwood, tiles or laminate because these are all easy to clean if needed and don’t get scratched from claws. Plush carpets can be harder to maintain and keep intact from pets as they can soak stains in, trap pet hair and odours can cling. You can also look for fenced outdoor areas, pet doors and designated pet-friendly areas inside the home to bring comfort to your furry friend.
You should also make sure that the home is safe for your pet. There should be no sharp corners or easy-to-reach electrical outlets and wires that your pet can hurt themselves on.
Get to Know the Neighbourhood
The surrounding area must have spaces for your pet as well as the home. If you like the property, you should delve into the neighbourhood and assess if this is pet friendly. There’s no point in moving to an area that meets your needs but not your pet. This is especially key if you have a dog or cat because they will spend time outside in the neighbourhood. Look for spaces where your pet can spend time, such as parks for dogs for going on walks and other green spaces for cats to explore. The area should also have pet-friendly walking paths and neighbours who are happy to live next door to pets. Sometimes this can be tricky to find, however, you could consider downsizing to a caravan park, as many residential park homes for sale come with pet-friendly features inside the home and green spaces to explore and exercise your pet.
You should also research the local area’s regulations, pet policies and attitude towards pets to make sure the location of the property will keep your furry friend safe. A bonus to look out for is being close to veterinary clinics, pet stores and grooming services. This makes it much easier to look after your pet and get the help they need.
Check for Health and Safety
The most important consideration before buying a new property with your pet is to check the health and safety of the home. This needs to be the top priority to make sure that you keep your pet safe, as well as yourself! Make sure that the home doesn’t have any hazards that can be dangerous to your pet. Look out for electrical outlets in easy-to-reach locations, exposed wires that pets can chew, toxic plants in the garden, sharp objects in the home and areas that can easily flood.
If you’re looking to purchase an apartment in a high building, you need to ensure that the windows and balconies are safe. Windows and the balcony door need to be able to lock and not be able to budge open. The balcony needs to allow protective barriers to be installed to prevent pets from accidentally falling or going through gaps.
Use these top considerations for buying a home with a pet to ensure that the property meets your needs and your furry friend’s needs. Your new home should keep you and your pet safe while keeping you both comfortable and happy. Make sure to check all the areas and be thorough with your search. This may take some time, but it will be totally worth it in the end!