If you’re a pet owner, you’re in good company! My two pups, Memphis & Raleigh are my world and I can’t imagine life without them. I also understand how being a home AND pet owner can sometimes be a bit difficult, and let’s face it, messy! Because it’s so important for me to keep my home safe for my animals, I thought I’d share some of my favorite tips and tricks to make sure your new home is ready to love your pets just as much as you do!
- Look for a Home with Hard Floors
When home shopping, I don’t recommend purchasing a home with wall-to-wall carpet. Carpet traps pet odor and is much harder to clean if your animal has an accident in the living room! If the home you fall in love with does have carpet, look into how much it would cost to remove it and add it to the total cost of your home.
- Purchase Stain Resistant Furniture
While a brand new, beautiful leather couch sounds like a perfect addition to a new home, we as pet owners know it may not be the best fit for our animals. When purchasing furniture to fit your new space, stain-resistant is the way to go! Most stain-resistant chairs and couches hide pet drool, markings, and messes and are WAY easier to clean. It’s also important to note that most big box retailers won’t honor their warranty if there is damage from pets, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to furnish your new place!
- Groom Your Pet Regularly
If your pet has free range over your home, it’s important to groom and brush them often.This will benefit you in the long run because it requires less maintenance on the backend– they’ll shed less so you won’t have to vacuum as frequently. Plus, you’ll find less unwanted furballs hiding in hidden crevices (you know what I’m talking about!)
- Invest in a Fence
If you’re looking for a new home, one of my top tips is to make sure the home already comes with a fence OR budget a fence into your overall cost. Having a fenced-in backyard allows your pups to run around freely, giving them good exercise while giving you peace of mind knowing that they won’t run out into the street.
- Make Sure the Plants are Safe
Some indoor and outdoor plants are toxic to animals. When purchasing a new home, make sure the plants that come with the property are safe for your animal if they take a munch. Same goes with indoor plants– if you purchase a new flower or plant for your space, just check that the plant is safe for your animal to consume.
- Look for a Pet-Friendly Community
Here on the North Carolina Coast, there are plenty of pet-friendly shops, restaurants, beaches and dog parks for your pet to live their best life! On my instagram page (www.instagram.com/saltyairliving) I let you know whenever I discover a new dog park or pet-friendly bar. Follow along to stay in the know!
Which of these tips will you consider when purchasing a home? Any tips I didn’t think of? Let me know in the comments if there’s a tip you think I should have mentioned here. I hope you and your pet have an amazing home buying experience, and if you need help on finding the perfect place for you and your best friend, shoot me an email and I’d be happy to help :)
Signing out,
Jenna
