“A dog is a man’s best friend” has long been a saying to show the companionship we find with our animals. This statement has never been more appropriate for the normal household as pet ownership numbers have consistently risen. Roughly 65% of households own a pet, and a recent survey by Apartments.com demonstrated that nearly 72% of renters have pets.
As a Baton Rouge landlord, it is critical that you know the current trends that can influence your business. The Humane Society of America recently published an article targeted at investment homeowners and landlords that drew the benefits of renting to pet owners, noting that landlords have a larger pool of candidates to select from and that these residents have a tendency to remain longer in a unit, reducing costs of advertising and turnover.
When you work with Real Property Management Baton Rouge, we help guarantee that your property is matched with the right residents, and their pets, in the event you decide to allow this on your property. Know more about how to pet-proof your Baton Rouge rental property today.
Why You Should Pet-Proof Your Property
One of the top reasons why you should pet-proof your property is to pull in more quality and qualified residents that keep our rental property business solid. By anticipating renting to a pet owner, you can make improvements to your lease agreement and physical property to get ready for a pet to reside in your rental property.
Numerous landlords worry they will get a “bad pet” and regret allowing them on the property. This can normally be avoided, however, with the correct pet screening procedure, which ensures that the pet has been assessed and approved just as a resident would be.
Pet-proofing your property is one of the best ways to limit possible damage to your property. While the security deposit that your resident gives would cover any damage caused, no one wants to redo the floors or give the walls a new layer of paint before it is necessary. By making pet-smart decisions within your rental property, you can prevent this in the first place and do business with homeowners with pets.
How to Pet-Proof Your Property
In any case, whether your property has already been set up for residents, or if you are in the remodeling stage, there are a number of easy ways to pet-proof your property. Save money by utilizing these cost-effective ways to rent to pet owners with less potential headaches.
Flooring looks to be the biggest issue for landlords when renting to pets, concerned that their lovely hardwood floor will be ruined. This can be protected by using polyurethane, which seals wooden floors and protects against these aspects, or you can install laminate flooring that looks like wood flooring but holds up better to traffic when remodeling.
Think of the exterior of your home also. Pet doors or granting the authority to have them installed if you have a fenced yard is something to consider. Patios and balcony railings can be made safer with gates, plexiglass, etc. Additionally, the paint you use in the home can go far in ensuring you protect your investment. While flat paint is less expensive to apply, semi-gloss or velvet paint allows for easier wipe-down and clean up when friends have accidents, furry or otherwise.
Heavy, thick blinds are perfect both to keep your rental property during summer and trap heat during winter, but also to protect against an animal pulling down blinds or playing with any flimsy cord or fabric. Baby gates can also be installed, but this is something you will want to task your resident with providing and protecting with.
Use these pet-proofing tips for your Baton Rouge rental property and begin seeing the benefits of allowing pets on your property. If you want more information about Real Property Management Baton Rouge and the services we offer, contact us online or call us at 225-389-6860 today.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
