When you’re renting a home or furnished high end rental apartments and have a pet, this damage can cost you money when your security deposit is in danger. From stains to tearing up carpets, there is a ton that can go wrong, which is exactly why you need to know how to pet proof a home that you’re renting.
Find a Way to Protect the Carpets
Pets, especially dogs, and carpets just don’t go well together. Many breeds of dogs will commonly tear and chew at the carpet, causing damage. This damage is going to, of course, cost much more than it’s worth by the time you’re moving out. That’s before you consider the general mess and dirt that pets track onto a carpet. After all, some breeds like the Goldendoodle need about 30 minutes of exercise daily. They’re going to track in dirt. So, find a way to protect your carpets. One popular way to protect the carpet is by layering throw rugs and other carpets on top.
Look at Your Home From Your Pet’s Perspective
Pet proofing a home isn’t just about making it so that the pet can’t damage your home, but that your home can’t harm your pet. For instance, if there are sharp objects that they can reach, they can be hurt. Natural flagstone, which is a type of broken up sedimentary rock used in many yards, can be harmful too. So make sure to look at the space from your pet’s perspective and get an idea of what issues they could be dealing with going forward. It will be better for both you and your things, as well as your pet’s safety.
Remember that Pets Chew and Scratch
Pets are going to chew and scratch things that they’re not supposed to. It’s part of having a pet, but in a rental property, it can be an issue. For the 27% of Americans who rented their homes in 2016, try explaining why the baseboards are chewed up by a teething puppy and see how it goes. The best way to prevent this is by being an attentive pet owner, of course. That, however, isn’t always possible. So, to prevent your pet from chewing something that they shouldn’t be chewing, make sure that they are well exercised. This way they won’t have the energy to chew. You can also provide them with a lot of chew toys to direct their chewing towards a positive spot.
Stay On Top of Messes
Pets, especially dogs, are going to have accidents that leave stains and long-term smells that you simply become used to over time. Even a housebroken dog is going to have a certain smell that they bring to the home which can lead to long-lasting issues. That’s before you consider the mess on the bottom of their paws as they walk in and out of the home. So, it’s best to stay on top of these issues, rather than letting them get worse and try to fight a losing battle. Clean up immediately, and if you have carpets in the home, it’s best to get a wet vacuum carpet cleaner. From there, you can find ways to cover up the smell and make the home seem as good as new.
Pets make people’s lives better. Don’t skip out on having a pet just because you rent your home. Find the things that are going to cause issues, and attack them right away so that you don’t have any issues down the line.
