According to a recent Realtor.com survey, almost 95% of homebuyers consider their pets when purchasing a home. Yes, you read that right.
Purchasing your first home is an exciting time. Whether you’re shopping for a fixer-upper or a home with a modern exterior, there’s nothing like finally being able to check the “buy a house” box off your bucket list.
That said, finding the right home can be challenging and time-consuming. There are a lot of factors to consider. What neighborhood do you want to live in? How much house you can afford? And of course, will your pet be happy in their new home?
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In March 2020, Realtor.com surveyed over 2,000 homebuyers and found that a majority of pet owners consider their animals’ needs before making a home purchase. Of the respondents, 61% were dog owners, 45% owned cats, 12% owned fish and 9% were bird owners.
You’re probably wondering exactly what kind of features a pet needs in their home to be happy. According to Realtor.com, homebuyers should look for:
- Whether the HOA restricts the number of pets or the type of pet
- A dog-friendly floorplan (i.e., dark wood to hide any scratches and no stairs for dogs with joint problems)
- A fence in the backyard to keep pets safe and other animals from entering!
- Dog-friendly neighborhood
According to the survey, 38% of homebuyers looked for big backyards and 29% searched for homes with some kind of outdoor space. 24% of pet owners wanted dog runs and at least 22% looked for homes with ample amounts of indoor square footage.
It should come as no surprise homebuyers have a list of must-haves when searching for their dream property. But who would’ve thought their pets’ needs would dictate what house they purchased? Well, it does. In fact, 68% of pet owners said they wouldn’t buy a house if it didn’t accommodate their furry friends.
“We believe that a home is so much more than a roof and four walls. It is where family and friends come together and memories are made,” realtor.com Chief Marketing Officer Nate Johnson said in a statement. “The results of this survey reinforce that our pets are our family and an important part of what makes a house a home.”
