After a long day there is nothing as welcoming as a happy and excited dog to greet you. The second I open the front door my dog, Delilah is the first one to run to the door and greet me. This is always the highlight of my day.
Today is National Pet Day and a great reminder that having a pet may have a major impact on one's real estate choices. There is an interesting article in Realtor Magazine this week, highlighting the importance pets play in our lives and how today's home seekers are searching for property options that welcome pets and also have nearby amenities.
My main take away was that when you seek a property as a pet owner there will be new criteria in the final decision. I recommend making a list of all the factors that will be major influencers. As we all worked hard to find ideal environments to possibly raise a family it is now as common to find an ideal environment to have a pet.
If you are buying a single family home be sure there will be safe spaces for your pet to roam and rest. If you are looking at multi-owner buildings you will want to see ones that are pet friendly. Easy ability to get the pet outside for walks will be critical (thinking high rise elevator building may be tough). Check the Condo association rules to be sure pets are allowed in the by-laws. This is very important and do your due diligence. I have heard of stories where one heard a pet was welcome only to later find it went against the Condo Association Rules. If you are renting also be sure the place allows pets. Learn the local area to be sure there are safe places to walk, near by dog parks and reputable veterinarians nearby.
The article lists eleven great Pet friendly cities but excludes my home state. As a pet owner and resident of Massachusetts I can vouch for this being a great state for pets. I wrote a blog post about making your home pet friendly almost 2 years ago and it is still quite relevant. Click here. If you don't already own a pet they do make great additions to your life and I could go on and on about this subject. All I can say is I love my dog and get super excited when clients are dog owners. Feel free to reach out to me with any dog related questions. In addition, I set up a small online business to sell light up dog leashes because my neighborhood has limited street lighting. (on another featured facebook page called Bella Cose)
Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She loves dogs, travel and blogging. For more info visit her website at www.wendybcb.com.
Of note, I recently started posting short videos called Wendy and Delilah to highlight areas of my real estate market place while we walk around metro west and Cape Cod. These are featured on my real estate facebook page @wendybcb or on youtube at wsbornstein.)
When my husband and I started looking at homes many years ago a top priority was to live near a playground and recreation area for our soon to be born child. These days, in addition, to seeking a place that will be great for your immediate human family, pet owners have other equally important criteria. Ideally you want to live in a place that will be pet friendly. To be considered a pet friendly area there must be pet amenities nearby which include pet stores, places to walk, groomers, veterinarians, and often restaurants with areas to eat with your dog. According to Dogtime.com the top 10 pet friendly cities nationwide include Portland Oregon as number 1 and Boston as number 7.
As a local dog owner, I can vouch for the Boston area being a great place to have a dog. Whether you live downtown or in the suburbs there are numerous pet friendly amenities everywhere. In addition, there are great vacation places within driving distance that welcome dogs along the south towards the Cape and up north towards New Hampshire. In the suburban town where I live there are great hiking trails and nearby dog parks. In addition to having many of the amenities mentioned above, with Tufts Veterinary School and Angel Memorial Hospital MSPCA in Massachusetts animal health care is a top priority.
The physical setting of the home may be a factor in choosing a property. Depending on the age and size of your dog, he or she may have difficultly walking up or down stairs. You may want a place with a fenced in backyard where the dog can run outside freely. (Of note, if you live in an area near woods you still need to be wary of wild predators and ticks and may not want to leave your dog unattended.) If you are looking at a rental or a condo it is also critical to check the rules of the landlord/association as sometimes dog or pets over a certain size are not permitted.
As city streets and traffic makes walking often difficult for urban folks the concept of dog parks has become increasingly popular over the past five years. First starting in cities such as Manhattan and downtown Chicago this trend has more recently migrated towards the suburbs. There are close to 60 dog parks now in the greater Boston area. Recently a dog park opened in Needham near my primary home and Mashpee where I spend time during the summer with my dog. A dog park is a great place for dogs as well as their owners to socialize. In fact, many empty nesters flock to the dog park to meet other dog owners.
Perhaps you have already found your dream property and are ready to consider becoming a pet owner. As a near empty nester my pet has become my best little friend and I am always excited to seek out new places to walk with her. If you would like to add a little friend to your life, Coldwell Banker has recently engaged in an arrangement with Adopt-a-pet to help place shelter dogs in loving homes. This is one additional way that my company works with our clients through all stages of life. After all there is nothing like coming home to the unconditional love of a dog. A dog truly does make a house a home.
Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham. She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective. She has also recently earned the SRES designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions. Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.
