**This article was updated on April 27, 2021.
You may use the phrase “A dog is a man’s best friend” to describe the attachment we find with our animals. This quote has never been more relevant in households as pet ownership numbers have recently swelled. Almost 65% of households have a pet, and a survey by Apartments.com shows that nearly 72% of renters have pets.
As a Westborough landlord, it is useful that you are informed of the recent trends that can influence your business. The Humane Society of America printed the newest article aimed at investment homeowners and landlords that showed the leverage of renting to pet owners, taking in the fact that landlords have a massive pool of potential renters to settle upon and that these residents tend to dwell longer in a unit, decreasing costs of advertising and turnover. If you’re considering making your rental pet-friendly, learn how to pet-proof your property.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the major reasons you should pet-proof your property is to attract countless quality residents who keep your rental property business healthy. By renting to a pet owner, you can make refinements to your lease agreement and physical property so a pet can take up residence in your rental property.
Many landlords are uneasy they will get a “bad pet” and feel nervous about allowing them on the property. However, you can avoid this with the right pet screening procedure, which screens and approves a pet just as you would a resident.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the best ways to prevent damage to your property. While the security deposit that your occupant makes would cover any damage they cause, no one wants to replace the floors or give the walls a new layer of paint before it is essential. By making pet-smart decisions within your rental property, you can avoid this in the first place and do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Protect Your Property
Despite everything, whether your property is already rent-ready or if you are still remodeling, there are many hassle-free ways to pet-proof your property. Save money by using these reasonable ways to rent to pet owners with fewer future agonies.
Flooring seems to be the biggest concern for landlords regarding pets, and many are often worried that a tenant’s fuzzy friend will damage their lovely hardwood floors. Using polyurethane reduces this risk, as it seals wooden floors and protects against scratches. When remodeling, you may also discuss installing laminate flooring that looks like wood flooring but holds up better to traffic.
Review the exterior of your home as well. Consider installing pet doors or having a fully fenced yard. Patios and balcony railings might be made safer with gates or plexiglass, etc. Also, the paint you use in the home can go a long way to seeing to it that you protect your investment. While flat paint may be less expensive, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe-down and clean-up when friends, furry or otherwise, have mishaps.
Heavy, thick blinds are also perfect for keeping your rental property cool in the summer and trap heat in the winter. Additionally, thick blinds can protect against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with a flimsy cord or fabric. You can also use baby gates, but this is something you will want to task your resident with providing and using.
Make proper use of these pet-proofing tips for your Westborough rental property and start receiving the compensations for allowing pets on your property. If you would like to know more about Real Property Management Metro West-Worcester and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 508-329-6000 today.
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