Buying A Home When You Have Pets: What You Should Look Out For
Buying a home when you have pets can make you a bit pickier in your options. You want to make sure you choose an area that is safer for them as well as choose a home that is more pet-friendly without having to make a lot of alterations after you buy it. Here are things you should look for when buying a home when you have pets.
Fully fenced yard
This is the most common thing you should look for when buying a home when you have pets. You want a fully fenced yard in the front and back part of the house so if your pets get out when you open the door, you have a barricade to keep them within your property. A chain link fence is fine, as long as it has no open gaps or any leaning poles that a large dog can easily navigate to jump out of the yard. Ideally, you want a fully fenced yard that is wooden or vinyl for added privacy and protection against climbing over or digging under.
Mud room
Whether you have dogs, cats, ferrets, or birds, a mud room will come in handy when buying a home. A mud room is a great place to store a kitty litter box or to wipe your dog's paws on when they come inside muddy. A mud room is also a location where you can place a kennel when you are potty training a dog or if you need a temporary place to put your pet when you don't want them jumping up on people or bothering guests. When home buying, seek a home with a mud room or an enclosed porch (this can be beneficial in many of the same ways).
Pet-friendly flooring
You want flooring in your home that won't stain easily and is scratch resistant. Carpeting can stain easily and carry odors from pet accidents, and hardwood can get scratched by claws quickly. An alternative to traditional flooring is cork flooring with a vinyl finish to resemble wood. It's designed specifically with pets in mind and is resistant to fading, scratches, stains, and other damage. As you negotiate buying a home, you may be able to make upgrading a room or two to this kind of flooring part of your closing agreement.
If you cannot find a home with specific flooring, buy a home with updated carpeting that you won't have to replace right away with your own pets. You can cover existing floors with rugs to protect areas where your pets frequent the most.
Buying a home when you have pets means you have to shop with your furry friends in mind. Consider a home with a fenced in yard, mud room or other private area where you can keep pets when you need to, and healthy flooring and you can have the home of your dreams that both you and your pets will love. For help selecting a home, tlak to a professional like Chris Calhoon Real Estate.
