Here are five tips you as a pet owner should heed during your home search to ensure that your new home works out for both you and your pet.

1. Make sure you know the laws. Pet restrictions are town-wide, and zoning restrictions need to be looked at because each zone in each town has different requirements and regulations. For example, the town I live in doesn’t allow chickens in certain areas of it. You may not consider a chicken a pet, but a lot of people have them, and they’re considered a domestic pet in certain towns and locations.

2. Understand your yard use and fencing ability. If you’re buying in a single-family home area or a condo area, there will be different regulations concerning what you can do with your yard. Even with single-family homes, you need to make sure you understand where you can put a fence and how you can construct that fence. With condos and duplexes, you may not have the ability to put up a fence, or if you do, you might only be in a certain area.

“Pets are an important part of our lives, so keep these tips in consideration when buying a home.”

3. Choose the right location. Obviously, neighborhoods with sidewalks are very desirable for pet owners. Living next to a busy road with a pet who needs to go out a lot, however, can be difficult and potentially dangerous for that pet. Living by a forest or a natural habitat can also be dangerous if you own a smaller pet because wild animals may live in close proximity.

4. Make sure your house has a pet-friendly floor plan. Condos and townhomes can have smaller, tighter floor plans, which can be inconvenient if you have a large pet. Even floor plans for single-family homes can be tight for larger animals. Your pet should have enough room to move around, and you shouldn’t have to worry about tripping over them.

5. Ask yourself if your pet can handle your home’s stairs, especially if your pet is older or doesn’t have healthy legs. If you buy a home that has a drive-under garage that forces you to walk up a flight of stairs just to get to the first floor, that might be difficult for your pet.

If you have any questions about this topic or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.