Finding the right rental space for your family often involves more than you and your children. It involves other family members as well: namely, your pets. 

What do when you have a dog that requires some running room? A large dog? Two small dogs? A kitty cat? If you are a renter, the possibility of moving inspires dread-because you know how hard it is to find a landlord that will allow animals to be in their investment home. As a Realtor, I have some advice and suggestions about where to turn and what to do if you have pets who are like family members and you need to rent your residence they will think of as home.

1. Hire a licensed real estate professional to assist you in their search. Their services are offered at no cost to you, because they will be compensated by the landlord if there is a successful transaction. SIGN AN AGREEMENT to let a good Realtor help you in your search. They will have more power negotiating with other owners or agents when it comes time to formalize the terms of your lease contract-including negotiating pet clauses.

2. Have current friends, landlords, Realtors who have seen your pets and your present house, and veterinarians write letters of recommendation for your pets regarding their temperaments. With cats, people are typically concerned with litter-box odor and scratch damage. With dogs, noise, yard damage, chewing, and aggression around strangers and children are often the concerns. All home owners are concerned with flea and tick control and carpet cleaning and deodorizing services cost. With those thoughts in mind, have letters written about your pets that demonstrate and awareness of potential negative issues but absolve your pet from having created any of the problems listed.

3. Finally, BE FLEXIBLE. If your ideal and perfect human rental home is going to require you send Sparkey or Tinkerbell to the humane society or local animal shelter, then find way to either shift your requirements or change your parameters. Be willing to offer an additional security deposit. Agree to have carpets cleaned multi-annually rather than yearly. Agree to professional pest sprays of the home, and to repair any lawn or garden damage at your own cost.  Visit a local dog park rather than needing a fenced yard on the rental home-or offer to pay the cost to install a fence where to the specifications the local homeowners association will allow.

Where there is a will, the family pet can stay. If you had read my example letter sent to a client earlier this evening, you'd notice that many options for pet lovers exist in Ashburn, Virginia (my home area) [and my personal market watch area BRAMBLETON itself  has many units available that consider accepting large dogs as well as small]. 

If you have a pet and are considering renting out your home, listing your house as pet friendly will help to draw people in; if you are seeking a pet friendly rental, work with an agent who is a pet lover and has actually rented. If you are considering selling your home and have pets in house, list your home with a Realtor who is willing to help service the listing and make accommodations for pet containment while your come is being shown.

Thanks for visiting,

Kae Davis, Pet Friendly Licenced VA Realtor

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ashburn Dulles

www.cbmove.com/Kae.Davis for more information