5 Ways Pets Impact Homebuying Decisions
Having a pet can impact many areas of your life, from your daily routine and household budget to the types of recreation you engage in. For those looking to buy a house, pets can shape their decisions and the properties and features they prioritize.
“Your pet certainly shouldn’t be the prime driver in your homebuying decisions, but if you’re not considering them, that’s problematic, too,” says Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief credit analyst. ”Our pets are part of our families. Hopefully, they’ll be around for a long time, so it makes sense to factor them into your thinking on buying a home. If the home isn’t a good place for your pet, you won’t be as happy there as you could be.”
Since you’d own the home, you’d be free to customize, like adding a doggy door or carving out a pet nook. But some features are best included with the original purchase, since changes would be costly. Here are five ways pets can impact homebuying decisions.
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No. 1: Square footage
Extra space is always appreciated, whether you’re a person or a pet. And four-legged friends like dogs and cats may require more room, whether that’s space to roam or for a cat tower in a prime bird-watching location. Of course, this depends on your pet’s type, breed and temperament.
A 2021 survey found that pet owners are more likely to buy 3,000-square-foot-plus homes with at least four bedrooms than non-pet owners.
No. 2: Stairs or house levels
If you have an older pet, it could make sense to prioritize a single-story home rather than a multi-story one. That way, you won’t have to worry about mobility issues (and injuries) when they traverse the stairs. A similar consideration would be needed for steps leading to the house.
No. 3: Outdoor space
Another common consideration for pet owners is the availability and size of any outdoor space, and the presence (or absence) of grass. You’ll also need to consider whether that area is completely fenced off, or if you’d need to invest in fencing materials to ensure your pet could be safe while enjoying the outdoors. If there’s a covered porch, a cat owner could convert it to an enclosed “catio” relatively easily.
“It depends on the pet,” Schulz says. “A big, energetic dog would benefit from a backyard or proximity to a park, while those things may not matter as much with a house cat.”
No. 4: Flooring materials
You may want a place with tile flooring instead of wood or carpeting because tile can be easier to clean and more resistant to scratches, Schulz says.
In general, pets can sometimes cause damage to floors over time (nothing quite so quickly as indoor zoomies), and shedding can lead to extra time spent vacuuming dander. So it makes sense to prioritize flooring materials to minimize that damage and make things easier on yourself. After all, if you plan on being in your home for many years, that time adds up — as does the general cost of owning a pet.
Alternatively, some pets may be OK with adding buffers, like area rugs and runners, especially if they’re on the smaller side.
No. 5: Proximity to resources
Depending on where you live, you may find yourself in an area that doesn’t have many veterinarians or pet hospitals nearby. Regardless of your pet’s age, that can be a deal-breaker for some, especially as time progresses. It’s important to think about your pet’s current needs and their long-term ones.
Ultimately, your pet is an integral part of the family. As such, you’ll have to determine which factors are deal breakers, and which ones you can work around.