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Relocating with Pets

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty of California, Inc. CA DRE #01490977

Relocating with Pets

 

Relocation is tough, but when you have beloved pets it becomes even more challenging. The issues will depend, in part, on how far you are going and how you are going to get there. And, of course, the type of pet.

 

Watch the video at the bottom or view the complete set of relocation videos on my YouTube Relocation Tips and Advice playlist.

 

Relocation is not for dummies - plan for your relocation with your pets1. Have a discussion with your vet about his/her suggestions for moving your pet. Let your vet know when you are traveling (summer months vs. winter) and how far.

 

2. Find out if your vet has any special concerns about your pet's ability to travel (pet is sickly, very old, has special dietary needs) and how to handle them.

 

3. Obtain a copy of your pet's records or sign a permission form for their release. Ask if your vet has a recommendation for a vet in your new location.

 

4. If you need a referral for a vet in your new location ask any new acquaintances or neighbors who have pets who they recommend.

 

5. When relocating to a new state find out if there are any special requirements for your pet, such as a clean bill of health, when you enter the state. It will very likely be an issue when moving overseas and there may be a quarantine period.

 

6.  If you are traveling by air, check with your airline to determine their requirements (is there a minimum temperature pets can fly at in the hold; required carriers; costs; vet certificates; check in times).

 

Relocating with your pets can be a challenge7. Be prepared for possible problems and have a back-up plan, such as contacting friends or family members who can assist with your pet while you transition, e.g., you need to leave them for a period while you leave then come back to get them (we left our dogs with family who later got them into their carriers and to the airport - bless them!).

 

8. You may want to try a few dry runs if you have not traveled with your pet, at least if you will be traveling by car. It may be best to use a carrier rather than not to see how it goes.

 

Relocating with pets is a challenge9. If your trip will be overnight by car, plan where you will stay to be sure the hotel accepts pets. By the way AAA is a terrific resource for planning your trip and the travel books they provide list pet friendly hotels and costs.

 

10. When traveling make sure you have plenty of pet food, water bowls, favorite toys, their favorite towel or bed, leashes, treats, and anything else you feel will help them feel more at home. This will help in the car, in the hotel, and especially when you get to where you are going.

 

 

11. At your new home be prepared that your pet may act differently - new smells, new surroundings, new noises. Having the pet in a small room for an extended time (hours, perhaps even overnight) such as a bathroom allows them to acclimate a bit at a time instead of being overwhelmed by a whole new house. This is especially true when your furniture arrives. Not only do you want to protect your pet from the movers, boxes, and from escaping out the door (movers don't shut doors I have found) but they will likely be freaked out by all the commotion.

 

Need more relocation tips? Please give me a call at (760) 840-1360 so we can discuss your personal relocation needs, concerns and questions. I am happy to help from start to finish with your relocation here to SoCal, or with a move out of this area.

 

If you are moving someplace other than SoCal, I can still assist you. I know a great network of highly qualified agents around the country and can help refer you to the right person to help find your new home and/or sell your current one.

 

Here are the prior articles (with videos) in this series in case you missed them:

 

View just the short videos  (under 2 minutes each) without the articles on my Youtube Relocation Tips and Advice Playlist

 

 

Video #11 – Making the Most of Your House Hunting Trips in Your Relocation

 

Video #10 – Help Your REALTOR® Help You in Your Relocation

 

Video #9 – Finding School, Crime and Other Information During Your Relocation

 

Video #8 – Packing for your Relocation: Do It Yourself or Not

 

Video #7 – Making Your List and Checking it Twice: Your Relocation Checklist That Is

 

Video #6 – Questions to Ask Your Movers

 

Video #5 - Buying vs. Renting When Relocating to Your New Home

 

Video #4 – Finding the Right REALTOR® to Help in Your Relocation

 

Video #3 – Moving with a Relocation Package

 

Video #2 – Getting Pre-Approved

 

Video #1 – Relocation Expenses

 

Introduction to Relocation Tips Video Series

 

Posted by

Jeff Dowler, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist / Realtor®


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Comments (15)

Jean Hanley
Coldwell Banker Kivett Teeters - Hemet, CA
Specializing in Folks Who Want To Buy/Sell Homes

Wow Jeff!  I never really gave this topic a whole lot of thought.  But You sure have.  What a great piece.  I may have to hold on to this one.  Love the dog pic.  Used to have a Bassett named Wynstyn.

Jan 08, 2014 07:32 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Such great relocation tips Jeff. Pets are a very important part of my clients lives. Making sure that pets transition properly with either selling or buying keeps pets healthy and happy. Owners too!

Jan 08, 2014 08:02 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Jean - well I have not only given it al ot of thought but have lived it as well, moving with cats and dogs a significant distance, via car and plane. Lots of challenges and planning. In one move we had to drive with cats and dogs to Cincinnati from Minneapolis to catch a different plane to Boston becaues it was too cold and the airline would not allow the pets to be transported in the hold.

Thanks, Janis. We drove from Boston to Carlsbad with our 20-year old cat becuase he was too old to get a vet certificate of good health that the airline required. It made us all feel better overall.

Jeff

Jan 08, 2014 08:31 AM
Bette Gottwald
UNITED REAL ESTATE | Central PA - Mechanicsburg, PA
"Bet"on Central PA Real Estate!

Jeff, this post is a great checklist and hassome very good information to make certain the pet adjusts to his surroundings quickly. 

Jan 08, 2014 09:50 AM
Jean Hanley
Coldwell Banker Kivett Teeters - Hemet, CA
Specializing in Folks Who Want To Buy/Sell Homes

Wow, this is just all knew to me.  Although when I was married to my children's father, we had dogs, cats, rabbits and cockatiels while the kids were growing up.  I just lived on meds, but loved my animals.  Now that I am not in that environment any longer, I just never thought about how it is to travel with pets.  This has been a great learning experience for me.  I need to keep this in the archives of my mind for when I have clients that are relocating.  Thank you so much Jeff.

Jan 08, 2014 11:42 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Great post Jeff, very informative & important.  Until you actually have to move with pets, it doesn't get much thought but it can get pretty complicated, especially with airlines involved.  I'd add to the list ensuring your new home doesn't have breed restrictions if someone has a bully breed of dog.  More & more towns are keeping certain breeds out, sadly.

Jan 08, 2014 12:28 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Jean - thanks for the additional thoughts. Some animals really do not like to travel and planning ahead for the journey is key

Bette - thanks so much. The more planning pet owners do when moving the better for everyone, especially the pet.

John - that's a great suggestion. There are HOAs that have limitations on the number of pets, the size, and sometimes the breed. That's part ofthe due diligence ANY pet owner must do when buying a home.

Jeff

Jan 08, 2014 01:07 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Jeff, this is a great topic. I have seen nightmares of Reloacting Buyers with these huge dogs ( usually 2 or more) and no place that will rent to them and most propeties not able to accomodate. I empathise but people who are planning to move to an unknown area and having too many or too large of pets, surely this pet issue must have at least crossed their minds a time or two. Sometimes there just isn't any easy solution

Jan 08, 2014 01:27 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jeff, this is a wonderful and informative post for relocating families.   I have one now coming from NJ and will need to share this post.

Jan 08, 2014 11:26 PM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Jeff:  Great post ... I've "pinned" it on my Boards at Pinterest.  Hope it proves beneficial to your readers .. and to you, too ...

Gene

Jan 09, 2014 12:19 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

William - well the issue of dogs, especially the big ones, IS a problem, in particular with HOAs that have pet restrictions of one sort or another. It's tough when you have a pet that you really care about but you have to do some planning, both in the purchase as well as in the relocation.

Thanks you, Joan, and good luck. Having lived with relocating 4 times with pets, I have a good idea of some of the different scenarios, which of course are unique for each person. Best wishes to your clients

Thanks, Gene. Much appreciate the PR. It's a tough issue that impacts lots of people who move. Even a short distance move takes some planning

Jeff

Jan 09, 2014 12:29 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Jeff -- Wonderful proactive solutions here. I can tell you definitely have experience moving pets around. You have really hit on more points than most pet owners would not even think of. Great info to help our furry friends through a transition.

Jan 09, 2014 09:57 AM
Norman Neyman
Norman Neyman - Midland, TX
Experience The Difference,Where Dreams Come True.

Thanks Jeff, great information. so many people don't think about the pets until the last moment. even if they have found a home in advance of travel sometimes they have not thought about pet transportation especially if flying them in the extreme hot or cold seasons.

thanks again for the information.

Jan 09, 2014 10:29 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks, Barbara. Yep I have had some challenges with relocating with pets. I tend to be a bit of a planner, which works well. I suspect some who are moving don;t consider these issues, in part becuase they simply do not have the experience. That's where WE come in, right?!

Norman - I believe that's true. And the airline restrictions have gotten so tough so it pays to investigate and find out

Jeff

Jan 09, 2014 03:26 PM
Ann Heitland
Retired from RE/MAX Peak Properties - Flagstaff, AZ
Retired from Flagstaff Real Estate Sales

Good post!

Mar 12, 2014 10:16 AM