Life With Pets: Tips For Moving When There Is A Pet In The Home
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Often, life takes us on unexpected journeys and when you’re a pet owner, those journeys invariably include your furry companions. They are an integral part of our lives and thus, every decision we make must account for their well-being. We’re here to delve into the ins and outs, do’s and don’ts of planning a move with pets in tow.
In our pursuit to shed light on what life is like when buying and selling properties with a pet, we’re thrilled to have Cindy Aldridge join us. Cindy is the brainchild behind OurDogFriends.org, a platform dedicated to celebrating the joy and responsibility of dog ownership.
However, before we plunge into the logistics of moving with our pets, we feel it’s important to first address the current challenging housing market and share some effective house hunting strategies. With Cindy’s insights and our collaborative exploration, we aim to provide you with practical guidance to navigate through this significant life event.
We often cannot predict our next move and when you add a pet to the mix, you have to include them in every decision made. We wanted to explore thoughts, tips and ideas when planning a move with pets in toe. For the discussion of Buying and Selling Properties with a Pet, we invited Cindy Aldridge, the creator of OurDogFriends.org, a website advocating for the love and ownership of dogs. Before we worry about making a move with our pets, we wanted to focus on the difficult housing market and best house hunting practices.
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House Hunting
The last two years have represented a period of unprecedented change in the housing market with robust demand and record low mortgage rates. Finding the right property can be tough amidst such high competition.
- Getting pre-approved for a mortgage will allow you to understand how much of a home you can afford. It can also expedite the buying process.
- Enter the search process knowing exactly what you need from a property. This includes the number of rooms, square footage, etc.
- Redfin has a great article that outlines tips for Buying and Selling A Home At The Same Time. If you are looking for an agent, check to see if Redfin represents your area.
- Ideally, you want to find a neighborhood that is up-and-coming but still has room to grow. This will ensure reasonable current prices and long-term appreciation. Curbed.com offers great advice in the article How to pick a neighborhood to call home.
- Some properties are more pet-friendly than others. Identify the features that suit you early on.
The process of buying/selling a property is complicated when you factor in dogs, cats, fish, parrots, and pets otherwise. Here are some resources I found that I hope will help ensure a transition that’s comfortable for both you and your resident non-humans.
Buying and Selling
Confirming a sale is not always straightforward. Once you’ve found a property (or a buyer), it’s time to begin negotiations.
- Finding a good realtor is more important now than ever. Referrals are useful but you also want to check their previous results and qualifications.
- As a seller, flexibility will help you to appeal to a wider range of buyers.
- When it comes to buying, avoid ‘chains,’ where your home sale is tied to another home being sold and target ‘contract ready’ properties to expedite the process.
Pet Considerations
Moving homes can be a stressful time for pets. Here are some considerations to help make the process more manageable.
- While preparing the home for the market, make sure that you leave an area of familiarity, so your pet is not disturbed by the sudden changes.
- It’s important that your pet travels with you whenever possible throughout the process.
- You can help your pet to adjust by accompanying them outside and allowing them to explore at their own pace. Puppyleaks.com outlines in their article 10 Tips To Help Your Dog Adjust To Your Home, with great ideas that will help when moving your pet to a new place.
Moving homes can mean exciting and sometimes scary changes and with the right preparation, there’s no reason this transition can’t also be an improvement in the lives of you and every member of your family.
Thanks to Cindy Aldridge for her insight and guidance on not only buying and selling with pets, but also how to navigate buying a house in today’s housing market. Cindy believes that dogs truly are our best friends and would like to see less dogs in shelters and more in loving homes, she is an advocate for all pets. To learn more about her organization visit Ourdogfriends.org.
For more tips and ideas, visit the WildLoveTails.com Pet Store to find just what you need to prepare your home, before putting it on the market. Products that will help you repair your pet loved home, make it even more pet-friendly or inspire you to create a welcoming pet space that will make pet-loving potential buyers fall in love with your home. Here are a few shops we recommend, click on the images below to find out more:
Tip: Your realtor is your first customer, wow them with a home that is ready to put on the market. Focus on reducing clutter, repair any inside structural damage and clean the home completely. This is a lot of work, but the results will be well worth it. A well clean, well-staged home will sell for more money and in record time according to the Forbes.com article 7 Pro Tips To Help Your Home Sell Faster, For More Money. Today’s home are selling very fast and they are often selling above asking price. To secure that you win at both, be prepared.
