When a furry friend is one of the homebuyers, it’s important to take pet friendly features into
account. When putting your must-have moving list together, think about your pet’s needs and
what feature or lack of a feature may be a deal breaker for you. While a fenced in yard is one of
the top things homebuyers with pets consider, here are other pet friendly features to look for in a
home.

Durable Flooring
If you have a pet, you know how much abuse your home’s flooring can take. Look for tough
flooring like hardwood, bamboo or luxury vinyl plank flooring, which is known to be scratch and
water-resistant. Materials like limestone are also ideal if you have pets. Durable flooring will
minimize the damage your pet’s claws will do, so finding a home that already has resistant
flooring can save you from having to get your floors changed or repaired down the line. 

Pet Friendly Landscaping
If you have a pet that plays outside, it’s important to be in the know about what plants are
growing in the yard as some are poisonous to our four legged friends. If the home has a garden,
be sure to ask about any bulbs or flowers that are growing. Some poisonous plants include
perennials like mums and irises, annuals like begonias and shrubs, and spring flowers like
daffodils and daylilies. 

Pet Bathing Station
Pets easily get dirty and muddy outside and if you’ve ever tried to bathe them in a bathtub, you
know what a pain it can be. Water splashing everywhere, an aching back and a tub coated in
pet hair. Having a pet bathing station in a mudroom or garage is becoming more and more
popular, so you may luck out and find a home with one. A pet-sized walk-in style shower and a
handheld showerhead will make bath time a whole lot easier. 

Built-In Pet Feeding Stations and Storage
Built-in pet feeding stations are also more common nowadays and are super convenient for pet
owners. Hidden in the kitchen counter, built-in bowls will keep your kitchen looking nice and tidy
and can help prevent you from tripping and spilling your pet’s food everywhere. On top of that,
having a separate space for pet food bags in your new home’s cabinets or pantry will keep it
from clashing with your decor.

Pet Friendly Neighbourhood
While a pet-friendly home itself is important, you also want to be sure the neighbourhood is
welcoming to pets. Is the neighbourhood walkable? Are there dog parks or open green spaces
around? Are there accessible dog waste stations? All of these features are important if you have
a furry friend. A low traffic area is excellent for walks, and also keep an eye out for other dogs
when you visit potential neighbourhoods. If there are a bunch of people walking their pups, it’s a
good sign the neighbourhood will be pet-friendly too.