“A dog is a man’s best friend” has long been a saying to show the companionship we find with our animals. This statement has never been more appropriate for the average household as pet ownership numbers have steadily increased. Approximately 65% of households own a pet, and a recent survey by Apartments.com showed that almost 72% of renters have pets.
As a Waco landlord, it is essential that you are aware of the present trends that can affect your business. The Humane Society of America recently published an article directed at investment homeowners and landlords that named the benefits of renting to pet owners, noting that landlords have a bigger pool of candidates to select 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 Talent, we help make sure that your property is paired with the right residents, and their pets, if you decide to allow this on your property. Find out more about how to pet-proof your Waco rental property today.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the principal rationales, why you should pet-proof your property, is to lure fresh quality and qualified residents that keep our rental property business healthy. By preparing for renting to a pet owner, you can adjust your lease agreement and physical property to develop it for a pet to dwell in your rental property.
Many landlords are troubled they will get a “bad pet” and feel remorse about allowing them on the property. This can usually be sidestepped however with the fitting pet screening procedure, which secures that the pet has been screened and approved just as a resident would be.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the matchless ways to control future destruction to your property. While the security deposit that your tenant makes would cover any damage caused, no one wants to refurbish the floors or give the walls a new layer of paint before it is necessary. By making pet-smart decisions within your rental property, you can sidestep this in the first place and do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Pet-Proof Your Property
Regardless, whether your property has already been set up for residents, or if you are in the remodeling stage, there are various 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 looks to be the biggest issue for landlords when renting to pets, concerned that their lovely hardwood floor will be damaged. This can be protected by using polyurethane, which seals wooden floors and protects against these aspects, or you may consider installing laminate flooring that looks like wood flooring but holds up better to traffic during remodeling.
Give some thought to your home’s exterior as well. Consider pet doors or granting the authority to have them installed if you have a fenced yard. Patios and balcony railings can be made to be safer with gates, plexiglass, etc. Moreover, the paint you use in the home can go a long way in ensuring the protection of your investment. While flat paint may be cheaper to apply, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe-down and clean up when friends have mishaps, furry or otherwise.
Weighty, thick blinds are perfect both to keep your rental property cool in the summer and trap heat in the winter, but also to protect against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with any flimsy cord or fabric. Baby gates can also be used; however, this is something you will want to task your resident with providing and protecting with.
Take advantage of these pet-proofing tips for your Waco rental property and begin seeing the benefits of allowing pets on your property. If you need more information about Real Property Management Talent and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 254-4010-0400 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.
