“A dog is a man’s best friend” has long been a saying to indicate the companionship we have with our animals. This statement has never been more applicable to the common household as pet ownership numbers have substantially risen. Approximately 65% of households own a pet, and a recent survey by Apartments.com has revealed that almost 72% of renters have pets.
As a Morrisville landlord, it is important that you are aware of the present trends that can influence your business. The Humane Society of America recently published an article focused at investment homeowners and landlords that laid out the benefits of renting to pet owners, noting that landlords have a bigger pool of applicants to select from and that these residents tend to stay longer in a unit, cutting down advertising and turnover costs.
When you choose Real Property Management Raleigh, we help make sure that your property is matched with the correct residents, and their pets, if you decide to permit this on your property. Find out more about how to pet-proof your Morrisville rental property today.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the primary reasons why you have to pet-proof your property is to bring in 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 actual property to prepare for a pet to reside in your rental property.
Numerous landlords are anxious that they will get a “bad pet” and regret allowing them on the property. This can typically be avoided, however, with the correct pet screening procedure, which ensures that the pet has been examined and approved just as a resident would be.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the best ways to limit possible 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 with your rental property, you can prevent this and do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Pet-Proof Your Property
Nonetheless, whether your property has already been primed for residents or you are in the remodeling stage, there are a lot of easy ways to pet-proof your property. Save money by utilizing these cost-effective ways to rent to pet owners with less potential headaches.
Flooring seems to be the chief concern for landlords when renting to pets, worried that their lovely hardwood floor will be destroyed. This can be protected by using polyurethane, which seals wooden floors and protects against these aspects, or by installing laminate flooring that looks like wood flooring but holds up better to traffic during remodeling.
Think about 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 secured with gates, plexiglass, and so on. Also, the paint you use in the home can go a long way to ensure the protection of your investment. While flat paint can be less expensive to apply, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe-down and clean up when friends have accidents, furry or otherwise.
Heavy, thick blinds are also perfect both to keep your rental property cool during summer and trap heat during winter, but additionally to protect against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with any weak cord or fabric. Baby gates can also be used, although this is something you will want to task your resident with providing and protecting with.
Make the most of these pet-proofing tips for your Morrisville rental property and start seeing the benefits of allowing pets on your property. If you want more information about Real Property Management Raleigh and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 919-481-0008 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.