Selling Your Home As Pet Friendly

One of the many benefits of owning your own home is the freedom to find your ‘furever’ friend. By pointing out the aspects of your home that make it ‘pet-friendly’ in your listing, you’ll attract these buyers rather than alienate the 61% of American households that have a pet!

If you are one of the many homeowners looking to list your home for sale, how do you stand out to the millions of pet parents searching for their dream homes?

Whether a dog person, a cat person, or someone who prefers the company of another pet species, 99% of pet owners say that they consider their animal to be family. When finding a home, 95% of animal owners believe it is important that a housing community allows animals.

A recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that there are many aspects of the home buying, selling and owning experience that have been greatly impacted by American’s love for their pets.

This should come as no surprise as $66.75 billion was spent on pets in the U.S in 2016, with $70 billion projected for 2017. NAR’s President William E. Brown shed some light on the impact of pet owners and their home search,

“In 2016, 61 percent of U.S. households either have a pet or plan to get one in the future, so it is important to understand the unique needs and wants of animal owners when it comes to homeownership.  

REALTORS® understand that when someone buys a home, they are buying it with the needs of their whole family in mind; ask pet owners, and they will enthusiastically agree that their animals are part of their family.”

The Power of Pets When Choosing the Right Home

  • 89% of pet owners say they would not give up their pet due to a housing restriction
  • 81% of Americans say their pets play a role in their housing situation
  • 31% of animal owners have refused to put in an offer on a home because it wasn’t a good fit for their animals
  • 19% of Americans say they would consider moving for their pet
  • 12% percent have moved for their pet

New home builders have actually begun installing retractable pet gates that tuck away neatly inside door jams as a highly requested feature in new homes to attract pet-parents, according to Builder.com.

So, if you are a homeowner looking to sell in today’s pet-friendly environment, point out the features of your home that will attract pet owners:

  • Fully fenced in backyard – (91% of pet owners ranked this as the most important feature of a home to accommodate their pet)
  • Locations of dog parks/walking paths/pet-friendly beaches in the area (71% ranked this as the top feature of any neighborhood they would consider)
  • Proximity to veterinarians/groomers/pet supply stores (31%)

Bottom Line

Americans love their pets and will look for pet-friendly features in the home they wish to buy, so take advantage of this knowledge by pointing out your home’s ability to meet their needs.

Replace Your Plans To Add On With A New Layout Instead

Instead of building out, a California family reconfigures the floor plan to make the garden part of the living space.

Andrew and Amy Faulkner had spent some time and effort on plans to extend their master bedroom and add a bathroom to their family’s 1961 home in Mill Valley, California. “But the local planning department didn’t approve our proposal,” says Andrew, a graphic designer and artist. Architect Erika Shern helped them change gears and keep the same footprint but reconfigure their existing space, a choice that in the long run saved them time and money.
Instead of knocking out the back wall and extending the house, the couple solved their problem by working from within. “My office got smaller to accommodate a powder room and a master bath beside the master bedroom,” Andrew says. “The bedroom was changed around and we added French doors that open up onto the back deck.” The doors give an indoor-outdoor feel to the bedroom. “We have so much more light and the garden is now part of our living space,” Andrew says.

The entrance to the additional bathroom is off the master bedroom. The stand for the television was designed by Andrew’s late father, Winthrop Faulkner, who was an architect and furniture designer in Washington, D.C. Ringo takes catnaps in the afternoon sun.

The desk nook was created when the shower stall in the master bathroom was pushed into the office space. Lily the cat likes to use the office window as a door.

The pocket door between the master bedroom and bath was a great space saver.

The new master bathroom has a large walk-in shower and lots of storage.

“We both loved the house the way it was,” Andrew says, “but we only had one bathroom upstairs that we shared with overnight guests and visitors. We wanted to have a master bathroom and separate powder room, so we started to make plans to move things around.” The original bathroom was divided to create a powder room and part of the new master bath.

The master bedroom opens onto the newly designed back deck, which is now used for entertaining and as a place for the family to hang out.

On the recommendation of their contractor, the Faulkners turned a low retaining wall into a bench for more seating.
The succulents were removed from the garden during construction and replanted into the back of the built-in bench seats. Metal flashing and waterproofing were added inside the planter boxes for better drainage.
Lily the cat has found a shady place to sleep outside.
The hot tub is easily accessible from the bedroom.
The hanging lights are solar-powered.
“We both love midcentury furniture and thought the house fit our aesthetic,” says Amy, an elementary school teacher. “Our furniture fit in here perfectly, as well as our art.” The coffee table was custom-designed by Andrew’s late mother, Jeanne Hawes Faulkner, who was an interior designer.
The Faulkners replaced the working fireplace with a gas unit. “We lose a lot of heat through the large, single-paned front windows,” Andrew says. “The gas fireplace heats up the whole room and it’s better for the environment.”

A tube amplifier and speakers sit on top of a blanket chest that has been in Amy’s family for many years.

No changes were made to the front room or the kitchen. “The kitchen was one of the selling points of this house,” Amy says.“The things we liked about the kitchen include the bamboo floors, the bamboo cabinets and all of the updated appliances,” she says. “The island is the gathering point in our kitchen when friends come over.”

The entrance to the house was originally at the back. “We added stairs to the existing front deck to make a more logical entry,” Andrew says.

The small powder room in the main hall off the living room is perfect for guests.

The house was originally confined to one floor, but the previous owner opened up the basement by adding steps and turned the lower floor into a bedroom, bathroom, TV room and laundry room.

Nineteen-year-old daughter Izzy personalized her bedroom downstairs with photos and other mementos.
A piece of wire mesh above the bathroom shelves is used by Izzy to hang her earrings.
Izzy has always loved languages and design, so she combined the two by using the pages from a German tourist guide and a Russian psychology book to decorate her walls. The framed print is from a book of Russian typography.
Andrew was convinced that the new plan to rearrange the bedroom, bathroom and office would satisfy their original expansion plans. “Just trust me,” he said to Amy. They both took their chances and are thrilled with the results.

Fresh Mint Ice Cream

If you have extra mint from the garden and you’re tired of mojitos or tea, check out this recipe for fresh mint chip ice cream!

Nothing heralds the arrival or warm weather like ice cream sandwiches made with fresh garden spearmint and dark chocolate. Here’s a recipe for fresh mint chip ice cream.

FRESH MINT CHIP ICE CREAM RECIPE

Makes 1 generous pint

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups fresh mint leaves (spearmint recommended)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 3 Tbsp cacao nibs

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, heat the cream, milk, mint, and sugar over medium heat, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and cover.
  2. Steep for at least 20 minutes and up to several hours, tasting until flavor has infused to your liking.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together yolks and salt.
  4. Slowly ladle in about a half cup of the hot milk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from cooking.
  5. Still whisking, slowly stir the egg mixture back into the saucepan.
  6. Return to the pan and cook over low heat until the mixture lightly coats a spoon, about 5 minutes. (A finger drawn across the spoon should leave a clear path.) Don’t let the custard boil or it will curdle!
  7. Strain into a clean bowl and cool in an ice water bath, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.
  8. Process in an ice cream maker, adding the cacao nibs during the last minute.
  9. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.