An added feature with a big impact, The Pet Realty Network's new interactive mapping feature plots the Pet Resource partners on a virtual map and is one more feature that makes The Pet Realty Network the one-stop-shop when it comes to moving with pets, making some home improvements, or just shopping for something extra special. 

The Pet Realty Network's Pet Resource Directory, launched in August 2007 includes pet friendly categories such as boarding, grooming, training, pet sitting, veterinarians, pet supplies, equestrian services, pet friendly hotels, pet relocation services, apartments, and assisted living for seniors.

Moving and real estate categories include home inspections, appraisers, mortgages, insurance, home staging, title and escrow services, moving companies and rental trucks, self storage, interior decorating, outdoor home improvement, home security, cleaning services and handymen.

The new interactive mapping feature adds user friendly functionality and virtual point-and-click ease for the 10.7 million people moving with their pets each year, and new Resources are being added daily. 

The Mortgage Crisis.  The Credit Crunch.  That's all we are hearing about lately.  For people with less than average credit, foreclosures are on the rise, mortgages are less available, and that is affecting us ALL.  But The Pet Credit Crunch?  You heard it here first. 

A few weeks ago, I talked about the Pet Spending Boom, and how it affects our economy.  Americans spent approximately $41 billion on their pets last year, and it is expected to rise to $52 billion in the next two years. 

Why am I bringing this up again?  Because I just got back from the Veterinarian's office.  $791.45 dollars later, my little girl is recovering nicely.  But don't panic, she wasn't sick, didn't have an emergency, or do anything out of the ordinary.  This was for her ROUTINE SPAY, plus a microchip, ear cleaning and a few take home meds.

So, you're thinking "almost $800 for a routine spay", right?  You're not alone.  I understand that we are in a higher-than-average part of the country when it comes to veterinary fees, but even in lower cost areas, the cost of routine prevention for pets is increasing.  

Thankfully, I was prepared for this visit, and took this anticipated expense into consideration throughout the past year.  If I didn't prepare ahead of time, I would have most likely had to put this on a credit card, as most others would have to do.  This contributes to the Credit Crunch, which affects the Mortgage Crisis, and you now have the Pet Credit Crunch.   

So what are some solutions?  When it comes to Pet Insurance, some people like it, some people don't.  Some consider self-insuring when it comes to preparing for your pet's veterinary bills, like I did. 

What do you do to prepare yourself for your pets medical bills, planned or not?  Do you rely on your Credit? Do you have pet insurance?   If so, has it been worthwhile?   

When Inman Wiki speaks, we listen.  And you probably do, too.  So when they featured The Pet Realty Network as their Blog of the Week, we had to take a minute to share it with all of you!  (Take a look below, we're right next to Craig Newmark of Craig's List)

Many of you may have been following the Michael Vick case, and reading our thoughts on the matter.  We are very pleased that Inman has picked up on what we believe to be a very important issue for pet lovers across the country.   

Here's a .pdf link, in case you missed our live feature week on the Inman Wiki Home page.

The launch of The Pet Realty Network's national Resource Directory makes moving with pets a whole lot easier

 With 10.7 million people moving with their pets every year in the United States alone, it's not surprising that the idea of creating an all inclusive Resource for pet owners moving with their pets is a good one. 

According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association in a 2005-06 survey, 63 percent of all U.S. households own pets. This translates to more than 69 million households, up from 51 million in 1988.   That's about 74 million dogs and 91 million cats. 

And a July 2007 cover story from Business Week confirms that Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on their furry friends, double the amount spent a decade ago.  That's more than what Americans spend annually on movies ($10.8 billion), video games ($11.6 billion), and music ($10.6 billion) combined.   Pet spending is expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years. 

All of these statistics add up to a great opportunity for the Real Estate Professionals and businesses working together to offer a one-stop-shop for people before, during and after moving with their pets.   

Pet owners expect only the best for their pets.  To stand out in the challenging real estate market today, Agents have to cater to the needs of both pet owners and their pets. The same applies to businesses that are interested in reaching the broad market of pet owners moving to a new area of town and shopping for anything from a new veterinarian, groomer, or pet sitter to where to find a good handyman, cleaning service or interior decorator. 

"Moving is traumatic enough, whether your move is across the street, across the city, or across the country.  Our goal is to include all different types of services in all areas so that when a pet owner is searching for the best real estate professional, veterinarian, and any other business required to make their new home pet friendly they can go to our Resource Directory", explains Rhona Sutter of The Pet Realty Network^TM. 

The Directory includes pet friendly categories such as boarding, grooming, training, pet sitting, veterinarians, pet supplies, equestrian services, pet friendly hotels, pet relocation services, apartments, and assisted living for seniors.  Moving and real estate categories include home inspections, appraisers, mortgages, insurance, home staging, title and escrow services, moving companies and rental trucks, self storage, interior decorating, outdoor home improvement, home security, cleaning services and handymen.

An example of businesses that have joined the Directoryleading up to today's official launch, include Invisible Fence of Southwest Florida, City Pet Care a pet sitting service in New York, Candy Jane Designs home staging services in Pennsylvania, PetBedMart.com pet supplies, Waggin' Wheels Pet Courier based in Jacksonville, Florida, The Apartment People featuring pet friendly apartments in Chicago, and North Woods Animal Hospital in North Carolina. 

"The addition of a Resource Directory to our already established Pet Friendly Real Estate search function makes The Pet Realty Network^TMnot only a place where pet owners can search for Real Estate but a place to go for all of their needs, creating the complete pet friendly moving experience." Sutter adds. 

Now that's something to bark about.

Launched January 2007, The Pet Realty Network^TM connects Pet friendly People and Pet Friendly Real Estate Professionals.  The new national Pet Resource Directory, launched today, completes the pet friendly moving experience.  For more information, please visit http://www.petrealtynetwork.com/  or telephone 239-403-4100.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a well-prepared fire department's use of their pet oxygen masks saving the lives of pets in a fire in Georgia.   

Yesterday, the story about the cat that survived a house fire in New Jersey by hiding in a couch made me finally pick up the phone to call my local Fire Department to ask the question. 

Does my Fire Department have pet oxygen masks?

City of Bonita Springs, FL - YES!

City of Naples, FL - YES!

I encourage you to call your fire department to ask the question.  If they do not yet have pet oxygen masks, there are many organizations all across the country that organize donations of pet oxygen masks.  A few include:

helpanimalsinc.org

and

Best Friends Pet Care 

Market getting you down?  Take a tip from a dog.  When the going gets tough, the tough go outside to play.

So what do you do when the going gets tough?  

Salary.com's recent survey says that employees spend about 1.7 hours of a typical 8.5-hour day at work on non-work related things like the Internet, socializing with coworkers and conducting personal business.

Do you remember the days when there were never enough hours in the day to get all of your work done? Now, when the market is tough, there is more free time to "play" with.   How about instead of playing, use that extra time to try reinventing yourself.  Find a new niche.  Work on your marketing materials.  Learn about a new marketing concept.  Turn something you love into your next big idea. 

Or just go outside and play with a tennis ball.  Seems to work for these two. 

Photo courtesy of Pimms and Reece, The Pet Realty Network's Director of Barketing and his loyal assistant. 

OK, I may not be a Home Stager, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. 

As a pet owner, I can claim to know the basics:  Remove pet odors (or try) remove pet hair (the best you can) remove obvious traces of pets (bowls, toys, beds) and pick up the land mines in the front, side, back yards (and heaven forbid on the kitchen floor). 

But I need to know more, and from the Professionals.  

What are your secrets?  Are there any special products out there that work better than others to remove odors?  Cleaning products for floors? Or "Emergency" tips - how to clean up traces of pets in case of a short notice showing? 

What REALLY works to help stage a pet friendly home - and keep it staged until it sells?  And what are your biggest challenges when dealing with pet owners? 

In this market, I think sellers have to be ready at a moments notice to show their property if they want it sold.  And for pet owners that could be tricky.  I would love to know your tips and tricks on how you work with pet owners during their pet friendly moving experience.   

Business Week's cover story this week addresses The Pet Economy - Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on their furry friends, double the amount spent a decade ago.  That's more than what Americans spend annually on movies ($10.8 billion), video games ($11.6 billion), and music ($10.6 billion) combined.    And if that's not enough, annual pet spending is expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years.

Which leads me to the question - can the average, ordinary pet owner really afford all of this? Or do extravagances like $430 indoor pet potties, $30-an-ounce pet perfume, and $225 pet trench coats go straight on credit cards, not to be paid off for years, and fueling the bad credit epidemic we see in many people trying to get lending for a prime mortgage.

Unfortunately though, it is not always the extravagances that cause people to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on their pets.  Pet owners are often faced with an unexpected life-and-death situations, and must pay thousands of dollars for their pet's veterinary care.  One option, Pet Insurance, is a risky one in the opinion of some pet owners and it is interesting to read feedback from people that have tried pet insurance actually recommend using credit cards to pay for unexpected veterinary bills instead. 

The sub-prime mortgage crisis appears to be going from bad to worse in the United States.  CNN Money.com reports U.S. home foreclosure filings rose 58 percent in the first six months of 2007, and could surpass 2 million by the end of the year, mostly due to borrowers that did not qualify for conventional fixed-rate loans and instead opted for "teaser" rates that lasted only the first few years of the loan.  Interest rates have now reset to unaffordable levels for the credit-damaged, sub-prime borrowers, forcing no other option but foreclosure.

With the deterioration in the sub-prime mortgage market and higher-than-expected default rates by less creditworthy borrowers, there is little to no demand for sub-prime loans, cutting off financing for many potential homeowners, and tightening credit standards for prime mortgages.  Which means pet owners who may be thinking about financing (or refinancing) should probably think twice when considering charging that $1,200 Hermès collar and leash, or $500 Chanel pearls for dog parties, and keep credit card spending in case you need to save your pets life in an emergency.   

If you are a lender interested in Pet Friendly Real Estate issues, please visit http://petrealtynetwork.com for your complete pet friendly moving experience including our Pet Resources Directory.   

Business Week's cover story this week addresses The Pet Economy - Americans spend an astonishing $41 billion a year on their furry friends.   That's more than what Americans spend annually on movies ($10.8 billion), video games ($11.6 billion), and music ($10.6 billion) combined.

From $900-a-pair Neuticles - allowing people to restore their pets to "anatomical preciseness", to "doggy hotels" instead of boarding kennels and even braces to fix crooked teeth, Business Week has the latest in pet trends covered. 

This article is filled with amazing spending figures (how one pet owner spent $1,200 for a Hermès collar and leash, as well as $500 for Chanel pearls for parties) and real stores about the amount of money people spend on their pet's veterinary care (one pet owner choked slightly when given an estimate of $3,700 to help cure liver failure in their cat, Koogle, over Christmas) hammering home the one fact that we have known all along - pets are a part of the family, and pet owners take them into consideration for every aspect of pet friendly living. 

So, we ask:  How do pet friendly Professionals in the Real Estate Industry cater to clients with pets?   We would love your feedback about how Real Estate Agents, home stagers, or even movers accommodate their services to attract pet friendly clients - and dip into the $41 billion industry. 

Photo courtesy of Linda Lamb, Pet Realty Network Member of Chicago, IL.

This Sunday's Chicago Tribune ran a great article about The Pet Realty Network and Pet Friendly Agents in Chicago.  

What's the draw to Pet Friendly niche marketing for Real Estate Agents? 

According to the pet-products manufacturers group, 63 percent of all U.S. households own pets, equating to 69 million households, up from 51 million in 1988.

And 10.7 million people move with their pets every year.

 Many thanks to Mary Umberger of The Chicago Tribune for the article, and for introducing the great group of Pet Realty Network Real Estate Agents to pet owners in Chicago. 

It's just one more reason pets love Chicago!