Anacortes Realtor, Anya Mayo of The Mayo Home Team Offers Tips to Dog Owners in the Market for a New Home

Dog owners can experience problems when buying a new home, but a few simple precautions can help avoid the most common mistakes.

Home buyers tend to consult each member of the family to find out what things are important to them, but our dogs cannot tell us what they want. It can be easy to think our fur babies will be fine no matter what but a few minutes considering their needs can help make sure you avoid issues that can crop up and find a place where your dog is happy and healthy.

One common issue according to Anya Mayo of the Mayo Home Team in Anacortes, Washington, is not considering the HOA rules. “The most important thing is making sure you are in a neighborhood that is dog friendly and has dog friendly rules.” said Mayo.

A limit on the number of pets is common in HOA rules. Mayo stated “A big issue can be the number of dogs. If you have more than one dog, you need to check the HOA rules and see what the limit is.” One less common issue to look out for is fencing. “Some neighborhoods don’t allow fences or only allow low fences that a large dog could easily leap over. So, if you want to be able to just let your dog out in your fenced yard this could be a problem.” Mayo pointed out.

Other considerations can include things like flooring. Some wood floors for example might scratch from dog nails and some homeowners don’t want carpet with dogs to avoid dogs peeing on the carpet.

A less common issue but a great example of the kind of thing you want to consider when weighing factors that could impact your dog is stairs, with some types of dogs. Some dogs like beagles and dachshunds have a tendency to develop back problems over time and their owners are encouraged by veterinarians to avoid letting these dogs go up and down stairs. Factors such as this might come into play depending on the breed of dog you have.
Another point to consider is the “walkability” of the neighborhood you are considering. Are there sidewalks or trails available or even a dog park area nearby. It’s easy to overlook such things but they can make a big difference in the enjoyment of life for your pet and for you!