You’ve saved up your money for a while now and you really think you’re ready — it’s time to consider purchasing your first home. This is a big, exciting moment in your life! It’s as thrilling as it is scary, because the farther into the home buying process you go, the more you realize how little you knew about how to buy a home. That’s where your realtor comes in to help, but there are some things you may want to bring up that they won’t think to mention.
As a pet owner, your biggest priority in life – besides keeping a job and getting food on the table – is providing the best life possible for your furry best friend. As your future housemate, they should have a say in what house you end up choosing. Some people may not think that pets have anything to be concerned about when they move into a new home, but there are actually things you should think about as you’re house hunting for the perfect abode.
Get the Right Layout
Some animal lovers want to buy a home that their puppy is able to run around in or one that has windowsills big enough for their cat to nap on. If your pet is getting up there in years, you might want to think about how many levels your potential future home has. Elderly pets may not be able to climb stairs easily, so if the bedrooms are only upstairs, they’ll may struggle to go up to the bedroom each night or you may be struggling to carry your pet up and down stairs. It’s those little details that you might forget that can have a big impact on your daily life.
Double Check the HOA Rules
You may not be familiar with the Home Owner’s Association, but they’re known for having a million rules for home owners to follow. The rules change depending on the neighborhood, so make sure you’re aware of the rules that would apply to the home you’d like to move into. Some neighborhoods are limited to the kind of pets that are allowed in, if there are any accepted at all. There may be forms for you to fill out upon move in or fees you have to pay, so talk with your realtor and double check the rules to be safe.
Inspect Housing Materials
Pets have a habit of getting into things they’re not supposed to and causing damage, so you need to take a close look at what materials have been put into the houses you tour. Something that always gets damaged is the flooring. Does your potential home have good floors? You can ask your realtor for these details, like if the floors are made of reclaimed wood, which has the best durability against pet nails. It might seem nitpicky now, but you could save yourself from a major renovation project in the future.
Locate Nearby Pet Services
Eventually you’re going to run out of dog food or kitty litter, so you’ll need to know where your local pet stores and services are. A quick Internet search will help you find the pet supply stores, but how do you know which businesses you can trust with your pet? Take some time to check out top veterinarian review sites before you make the big move so you can rest easy knowing a trusted vet is nearby if anything should happen. You can do the same thing for groomers, although finding a vet should be the first thing you look for.
Buying your first home is overwhelming. There’s so much you don’t know about that you can often feel like you’re making guesses rather than decisions about everything. Don’t let anything slide past you when it comes to your pets! Do research online to see if you’ll be moving to a pet friendly area and make sure the layout and make of the home will be right for your pet. You’ll end up finding a place that will make both you and your pets feel right at home.
