Pets Dictate This 1 Important Decision
On average, prospective homebuyers visit 10 properties over 10 weeks until they find their new home. It turns out that one of the more prominent reasons a home search gets extended is furry and walks on four legs.
That’s right: if a house doesn’t pass “the pet test,” it’s out of the running.
A survey by realtor.com found that 75 percent of pet-owning home buyers would pass up an otherwise-perfect home if they didn’t think it was a good fit for their animals.
That’s a considerable percentage considering that finding the right property ranks as the most difficult step in home buying.
Eighty percent of the people surveyed owned pets. Of those:
87 percent took their pets' needs into account when looking for a home.
Nearly 90 percent of pet-owning buyers said that their animals' needs were important or very important in their home-search process.
90 percent of dog owners and 87 percent of cat owners said their pets' needs were important or very important during their home search. But reptiles (98 percent), horses (91 percent), and fish (87 percent) also factor into decision making.
So, what are some of the most important features for pet owners?
A large yard (45 percent)
Any outdoor space (36 percent)
A garage (33 percent)
If you’re looking to pitch a house to a dog or cat (☺), I’m happy to help by tackling any banking needs that come up! I’ll even bring a chew toy or catnip if that will help you out!
Information is accurate on the date of publication. For real estate professionals only. Not for distribution to consumers.