Are you looking for a pet-friendly rental home? Most apartment buildings have clear guidelines for pets that are allowed, but renting from an individual isn’t as clear cut. Most listings in the MLS simply state that pets are allowed “case by case”, which means at the owner’s discretion. I often find prospective tenants are very nervous about the possibility of their pet being accepted.
Why Your Pet Should Have a Resume
I advise my clients to create a “resume” for their pet to include with the rental application. This should provide basic information about the pet, as well as details that can help the owner feel more comfortable about renting to you.
Your pet’s resume should include:
- Breed
- Age
- Sex
- Training: Is your pet crate-trained? Has s/he received obedience training? Did s/he receive a certificate for being a stellar “student” in class? Include it!
- Personality traits: Is your pet low key and doesn’t jump around much? Or is s/he a high energy dog, but gets plenty of walks?
- Standout behavior habits: If your pet doesn’t chew, scratch, etc. make sure to include this info!
- Grooming: If your pet is a breed that sheds a lot, let the owner know what you do to overcome it. If s/he doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic, by all means include that!
- Proof of vaccinations
- Disclosure of any previous incidents
Don’t embellish your pet’s resume and certainly don’t lie. But if your pet is an awesome housemate, let the owner know. The goal here is to provide enough information to remove the unknown and uncertainty for the owner of the home.
If you’re ready to find the perfect home for you and your pet, let me know! One of the reasons I chose Old Town Alexandria as my home is how dog-friendly it is. Even so, it can be tricky to find the dog-friendly restaurants and stores. This is why I started documenting where I take my dog, Rummy on LeisurePup.com. Check it out, and let me know if I can help you find your next pet-friendly rental home!
The post Pet-Friendly Rental Homes: Why Your Pet Should Have a Resume appeared first on Lindsey Schmidt Homes.
