When you drive around San Francisco, it's no doubt we appear to be a very pet friendly city. There's parks full of frolicking 4-legged friends and dog walkers galore. Water bowls outside of stores and restaurants are littered all over trendy streets like Union and Fillmore. Where then do they live if having a pet knocks out 80% of your inventory?
Good question. If you ask anyone how they housed their pet in today's rental market, you will likely get a grueling story. Call it the tech boom of supply and demand which allows owners to be picky, or the market at large- it's a wonder you can house yourself let alone "Fluffy!" In fact, the once untapped "dog walker" market is currently in very high demand making some Landlords feel better about accepting your application.
Don't get me wrong ( I'm the most optimistic person on earth!) but when it comes to our housing market pets are not favored. Period. So having a "pet plan" is a must.
Without stating the obvious potential pet destruction to floors, doors, walls and the like, I see a lot of owners who don't want to deal with the frequent turn over from the aftermath. While I help desperate renters trying to house their pets, I've also seen the other side. When a property owner calls me after they've just spent $28,000 re-doing their hardwood floors, you could say the wound runs deep. And since prepping a home to re-rent to the next guy after a pet was present is no small feet (yes, we know your pet is perfect, like a child to you, and hardly barks!) but the wear n' tear can be pretty devastating. Therefore, I highly recommend drafting up a bio about your pet. Include a picture, with the breed, weight, demeanor and any documentation on obedience training and certificates. You'll also want to include your plan as far as how your animal will be taken care of. Saying you have a dog walker in place on a daily basis certainly helps. And lastly, be prepared to offer a heftier deposit. Paying a pet deposit is a fair consolation for all parties involved and can often times seal the deal.
If you have a service animal, that's a whole different topic which I will be dedicating a separate post to, but in the meantime, have that "pet plan" ready or feel free to reach out for a full comprehensive relocation package at www.shemovesyou.com