“A dog is a man’s best friend” has long been a saying to signify the companionship we find with our animals. This statement has never been truer for the average household as pet ownership numbers have steadily increased. About 65% of households own a pet, and a recent survey by Apartments.com showed that nearly 72% of renters have pets.
As a Clearwater landlord, it is important that you are familiar with the current trends that can impact your business. The Humane Society of America recently published an article targeted at investment homeowners and landlords that listed the benefits of renting to pet owners, noting that landlords have a larger pool of applicants to choose from and that these tenants tend to remain longer in a unit, minimizing advertising and turnover costs.
When you work with Real Property Management TradeWinds, we help guarantee that your property is paired with the right tenants and their pets if you decide to allow pets on your property. Learn more about how to pet-proof your Clearwater rental property today.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the main reasons why you should pet-proof your property is to attract high-quality and qualified tenants that will keep your rental property business thriving. By anticipating renting to a pet owner, you can make improvements to your lease agreement and physical property to prepare for a pet tenant in your rental property.
Many landlords worry they will have a “bad pet” and regret allowing them on the property. However, this can be prevented with the proper pet screening procedure, which ensures that the pet has been assessed and approved just as a tenant would be.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the best ways to limit potential damage to your property. While your tenant’s security deposit would cover any damage caused, no one wants to redo the floors or give the walls a new layer of paint. By making pet-smart decisions with your rental property, you can avoid this in the first place and still do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Pet-Proof Your Property
Regardless of whether your property has already been set up for tenants or if you are in the remodeling stage, there are many easy ways to pet-proof your property. Save money by using these cost-effective ways to rent to pet owners with fewer possible headaches.
Flooring appears to be the biggest concern for landlords when renting to pets. They often worry that their lovely hardwood floor will be destroyed. However, this damage can be prevented 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.
Give some thought to the exterior of your home as well. Installing pet doors if you have a fenced yard is 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 far in helping you protect your investment. Although flat paint may be less expensive to apply, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe-down and clean up when friends, furry or otherwise, have mishaps.
Heavy, thick blinds help to keep your rental property cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but they can also protect against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with a fragile cord or fabric. Baby gates may also be used, but this is something you will want to ask your tenant to provide
Take advantage of these pet-proofing tips for your Clearwater rental property and start enjoying the benefits of allowing pets on your property. If you would like more information about Real Property Management TradeWinds and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 727-400-4722 today.
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