“A dog is a man’s best friend” has long been a saying to show the companionship we have with our animals. There has never been a more applicable time to use this statement than today as the typical households with pets has steadily increased. Roughly 65% of households own a pet with a recent survey by Apartments.com showing that 72% of renters have pets.
As a landlord, it is important that you know the current trends that can affect your business. The Humane Society of America recently published an article directed at investment homeowners and landlords that summarized the benefits of renting to pet owners, noting that landlords have a larger pool of applicants to choose from and that these residents tend to stay longer in a unit, minimizing costs of advertising and turnover.
When you work with Real Property Management Investment Solutions, we help make sure that your property is matched with the right residents as well as their pets. Know more about how to pet-proof your Muskegon rental property today.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the primary reasons why you ought to pet-proof your property is to entice more quality and qualified residents that keep our rental property business healthy. By foreseeing renting to a pet owner, you can make changes to your lease agreement and physical property to prepare for a pet resident in your rental property.
A lot of landlords worry they will get a “bad pet” and regret letting them on the property. This can usually be avoided, however, with the proper pet screening procedure, which ensures that the pet has been screened and approved just like a normal resident.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the best ways to minimize potential damage to your property. While the security deposit that your resident makes would cover any incurred damage, no one wants to redo the floors or give the walls a new layer of paint before it is needed. By making pet-smart decisions regarding your rental property, you can avoid this in the first place and do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Pet-Proof Your Property
Regardless of whether your property has already been prepared for residents or if you are still in the renovation stage, there are many stress-free ways to pet-proof your property. Save money by using these cost-effective ways to rent to pet owners for fewer headaches for all parties.
Flooring looks to be the biggest concern for landlords when renting to pets, concerned that their lovely hardwood floor will be ruined. This can be protected by using polyurethane, which seals wooden floors and protects against these aspects, or you may consider installing laminate flooring that appears as wood flooring but holds up better to traffic when remodeling.
Give some consideration into the exterior of your home as well. Pet doors or granting the authority to have them installed if you have a fenced yard might be something to consider. Patios and balcony railings can be made safer with gates, plexiglass, etc. Also, the paint you use in the home can go a long way to ensuring the protection of your investment. While flat paint may be less expensive to apply, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe downs and cleanups when accidents occur.
Thick and heavy blinds are also perfect to both keep your rental property cool in the summer and trap heat in the winter. Moreover, it protects against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with fragile cords or fabric. Baby gates can also be used but this is something you will want to ask your resident to provide and protect.
Take advantage of these pet-proofing tips for your rental property and start reaping the benefits of allowing pets on your property.
If you are interested in having your property managed by Real Property Management Investment Solutions, have more questions, or just want to speak to one of our team members, then contact us online or call us directly at 616-419-8880 today!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
