There’s no question of how prevalent pets are in American homes. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, 71% of households in the United States own a pet. With this statistic in mind, it’s no surprise that furry friends can play a considerable role in every real estate decision made by today’s buyers and sellers. From finding a home near a dog park to selling a house with lingering pet odors, your clients are likely to have their animal companions on the brain through each step of the process. As their real estate agent, how do you help them find and/or sell pet-friendly homes?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand the needs of pet-owning buyers and sellers. This can include knowing how to identify relevant neighborhood amenities, highlight pet-friendly home features, navigate potential HOA restrictions, help sellers prepare their houses for showings, and more. In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies and key considerations to help you better support clients when it comes to potential pet-related challenges.
What are the benefits of pet ownership?
For many households across the country (and world!), pets aren’t just animals to have around—they’re part of the family. Beyond companionship, pet ownership offers a wide range of emotional, physical, and social benefits that often influence how and where people choose to live, as well as help make home a happier place overall. If you have animals in your own home, you probably have firsthand knowledge of these advantages.
Mental health
For one thing, pets can play a powerful role in supporting mental and emotional wellbeing. Studies consistently show that spending time with animals may help reduce stress, ease anxiety, and combat feelings of loneliness. For homeowners, coming home to a wagging tail or a happy purr can make their house feel even more like a sanctuary.
Physical activity
Pet ownership also encourages healthier, more active lifestyles. Daily walks and playtime naturally get people moving and help establish consistent routines. Neighborhoods with sidewalks, parks, and green spaces are especially attractive to pet owners, shaping their housing preferences in meaningful ways.
Social ties
These outdoor activities may also aid in strengthening social connections. Walking a dog or visiting a local park often leads to conversations with neighbors, potentially even transforming into human and canine friendships.
Responsibility and routine
Finally, pets contribute to a strong sense of structure, particularly for families. Children who grow up with pets may have the opportunity to develop greater empathy, while adults might find that caring for a pet adds purpose and predictability to daily life.
Understanding the value pets bring to their owners’ lives helps explain why pet-friendly features and neighborhoods matter so much in real estate. When agents acknowledge the benefits of pet ownership, they’re better equipped to help clients and their animals navigate the homebuying or selling process.
How do you find pet-friendly homes for buyers?
While homebuyers don’t typically have to worry about pet deposits and fees the way renters do, there are still many factors that can make a home and neighborhood more or less pet-friendly. As a real estate agent, understanding and anticipating these considerations can help you guide clients toward houses that truly fit their whole household, furry members and all. Focus on the following to help you identify suitable options:
- Home features. Pet-pleasing features inside the home can be a major selling point. Buyers may be drawn to details like a mudroom or dog-wash station to minimize messes, durable flooring that can withstand claws and nails, or a screened-in porch to prevent Fido from wandering. Clients with elderly pets, on the other hand, might seek something with fewer stairs and more carpet for enhanced safety and comfort. This is where new homes can really be your go-to for pet-owning buyers. New-construction houses might be more likely than resale options to have the features mentioned above. Additionally, if your clients consider a Richmond American home, they may have the opportunity to personalize fixtures, finishes, and structural options in select communities. That way, they can design an abode that checks all of their pet-related boxes.
- Yard requirements. Not all yards are created equal, especially when pets are involved. Some buyers may need a large yard to accommodate high-energy dogs, while others could require a fully fenced space for safety purposes. Fence height, gate security, and community rules around yards can all be important details to confirm early in the search. For clients without an outdoor space, access to nearby green space becomes even more critical.
- Local amenities. For many pet owners, nearby amenities are just as important as the specs of a home. Easy access to dog parks, walking trails, and open spaces can significantly improve daily life for both animals and their humans—bonus points if these areas are actually in the community itself. Buyers may also appreciate close proximity to veterinary clinics, emergency animal hospitals, grooming services, pet supply stores, or boarding facilities. Highlighting relevant resources can help clients envision how the neighborhood will support their lifestyle long after move-in day.
- Pet restrictions. Local municipalities and HOAs may have restrictions on the number and type of pets residents can keep, as well as additional ordinances on leashing, noise, vaccinations, and waste disposal. If your sales market has breed bans or communities with strict pet covenants, you’ll want to let your clients know before you spend too much time touring there. You wouldn’t want buyers to fall in love with a neighborhood that ultimately won’t work out for their beloved pet!
- Neighborhood wildlife: It’s may not be the first thing you and your clients consider, but local wildlife is an important factor in pet safety. In some areas, animals such as coyotes, foxes, or birds of prey can pose a real risk to small dogs and cats. Understanding the environment—and being upfront about potential concerns—helps buyers make informed decisions about outdoor safety and supervision.
Paying attention to your clients’ pet-oriented priorities is just one more way you can demonstrate your commitment to their paw-sitive homebuying experience. When buyers feel understood and supported, you’re that much more likely to earn their business for the long term. Plus, that kind of care often leads to glowing reviews and referrals down the road.
Already have some pet-owning clients or leads? Share this checklist to guide them through moving with four-legged family members.
How do you help clients with pets sell their homes?
Despite the popularity of pet ownership and the rise of pet-friendly real estate businesses, it’s generally considered a good idea to minimize the more unpleasant signs of your clients’ pets when putting a house on the market. Even fellow animals lovers want to imagine themselves—and their own pets—living in the home, not be reminded of someone else’s furry friends. As an agent, you can help sellers strike a balance between pet-friendly living and market-ready presentation by tactfully addressing the following areas:
- Shedding, odor & waste. If pets are going to stay in the residence while it’s on the market, cleanliness should be a top priority. Excess fur on floors, furniture, and window treatments can be a turnoff for buyers, as can lingering pet odors. Encourage sellers to vacuum and mop frequently, launder pet bedding, and stay on top of litter boxes and yard cleanup. Professional deep cleaning—especially for carpets, rugs, and upholstery—can go a long way toward neutralizing odors and presenting a fresh, well-maintained space.
- Clutter. Just as the humans in the house need to pack and declutter, so do the pets. Clients should keep the number of pet toys, bowls, beds, crates, leashes, and other accessories to a minimum and especially consider hiding the most unsightly (AKA well-loved!) of the bunch. A clean, uncluttered space helps buyers focus on the home itself, not its current occupants. For some organization/tidying ideas, point your sellers toward this handy Pinterest board.
- Food & water. Your client’s pet may be used to grazing at a food bowl throughout the day, but that can lead to a lingering smell. Ask your client to consider feeding at defined times of day, then cleaning and storing the food bowl out of sight. Naturally, they’ll want water to be available at all times, so you can suggest a variety of attractive fountains or bowls that will complement their décor.
- Pet damage. From scratches on hardwood floors and bald patches on carpeted stairs, to tooth marks on baseboards and lingering stains, pets can be hard on a house. Walk through the property with a critical eye and help sellers identify damage that could raise red flags for buyers. Minor repairs—such as patching carpet, refinishing scratched floors, touching up trim, or addressing lawn damage from digging or dead spots—can make a noticeable difference in perceived value.
Depending on your budget and how often you work with pet-owning clients, it may be worth building relationships with local pet boarders, doggy daycares, or cleaning services that specialize in pet stains and odors. Recommending a trusted provider—or even offering a gift card, coupon, or referral discount—can make the process easier for sellers while helping their home look its best.
Unsure of how to start the conversation? Sharing a helpful resource, like our Tips for Showing a Home (Despite Kids & Pets!) blog article, can be a friendly, non-judgmental way to educate and set expectations.
Bringing it home for people and pets alike
Helping clients with animals buy or sell a home goes far beyond checking a box labeled “pet-friendly.” It’s about understanding how deeply pets are woven into daily routines, lifestyle choices, and long-term housing decisions. And for real estate professionals, it’s often these thoughtful details that help set you apart in a competitive market. Whether you’re a buyer’s or seller’s agent, taking the time to consider pet-related needs allows you to demonstrate a level of care and expertise that any client will remember.
We’ll do the legwork for you!
We can tell you which neighborhoods have dog parks, ranch floor plans, RV garages—whatever is on your clients’ wish list!
