Marketing Your Home to the Pet-Friendly Crowd

According to the American Humane Society, there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs and 93.6 million owned cats in the United States. What this means is that roughly 39% of American families have at least one dog and 33% of American families have at least one cat in their household. If you're looking for that little extra oomph to try and sell your home, you might consider marketing your house as being pet friendly. Not sure how to do that? Here are a few tips that will help you create a pet-friendly environment in your home:

The Fenced-In Yard

Most people enjoy the luxury of a fenced in yard; whether you have children, pets or just enjoy your privacy, fenced-in yards provide potential home owners with a feeling of added security. If you're fencing a yard for pets, one thing you need to keep in mind is what breed you currently own, or what you're expecting to market towards. If you just have a small house and don't expect potential buyers to be bringing in large breeds, you probably don't need more than a standard chain link fence. However, if you have a large house with a large back yard, you might want to weigh your options and think about a little taller fence that will accommodate larger or more athletic and energetic pets.

Also, if you're considering a fenced in yard and you really want to market to the pet crowd, ensure that the fence is sunken slightly or that there is a stone barrier to discourage digging and tunneling under the fence. This is especially easy to pull off with some creative landscaping and some lovely rock gardens. This added safety precaution is sure to win points in the hearts of dog lovers.

Pet-Friendly Landscaping

Many plants and decor can be dangerous to dogs and cats. If you've taken the time to pet-proof your back yard and ensure you only have pet-friendly landscaping and non-toxic plants, don't be afraid to tell people this. These are things that are commonly overlooked and that pet-owners really do appreciate knowing. We don't always take these things into consideration and, if you point out the safety of your back yard, it's sure to make people feel a little more secure about your property. A feeling of security is what helps to make a house a home.

Think About Installing a Pet Door

Provided you have a fenced-in back yard, one of the easiest and most appealing home improvements that you can make is to install a quality pet door. Installing a nice doggie door is inexpensive, only takes a couple of hours to complete, and it will certainly help to make your home more marketable to the pet-friendly crowd.

Let's face it - One of the biggest complaints that dog owners have is having to take the dog for numerous walks throughout the day and night. By installing a pet door, you can turn walking the dog into something that you want to do, as opposed to something you have to do, and you will also lessen the risk of messes and accidents on your floors. Another bonus to installing a dog door in your house is that it's healthier for your pet - by allowing them to go outside when they want to, they are allowed to burn off extra energy, explore, lay in the sunshine and enjoy life. This is another key bonus that can help sell a potential buyer on your home.

Build an Outdoor Cat Enclosure

If you're a handyman or enjoy woodworking and building, you might want to invest a weekend in this little home-building project. From personal experience, I can say that most cats absolutely love exploring outside. Unfortunately, not only is it very dangerous for them, but there is a good chance that they can track everything from fleas and other parasites to disease back inside your home. By building a roomy cat enclosure outside, you can fill it with things to climb and perch upon, toys to play with and places to explore, helping to keep her safe from harm. Additionally, you'll be keeping your house cleaner and healthier, making this a definite win-win situation.

Window Ledges Make Happy Cats

Another nice handyman's touch around the house are cat-friendly window platforms. Designed to sit on the inside of window ledges, cat platforms allow your feline friend to perch in front of the window and watch the local birds and squirrels from the safety of her own home. Optional and removable cat platforms are a definite bonus for many, allowing homemakers to clean around them, but still keeping kitty out of trouble.

For the more advanced cat-friendly home, I've also seen people who have installed cat boxes on their windows. This is an enclosure which attaches to the outside of the window, allowing cat owners to open the window and let the cat lay out in the box and enjoy the sunlight while communing with nature. It's an ideal alternative to building a large cat enclosure in the back yard and really appeals to the cat fancier.

Other Pet-Friendly Perks

There are lots of other pet-pleasing perks that you can use in your home to market more towards a more pet-friendly crowd. Hardwood floors and vinyl or ceramic flooring helps with easy clean up and keeps pet odors to a minimum. Spacious rooms offer great places for pet kennels or places to store cat towers or pet toys. Marketing towards the pet owner is a quick and easy way to give your home a little added appeal and set those tails to wagging. In this market, every little thing helps.

Sources:

Personal experience as a home-owner and long-term pet owner