Eight Dwelling Design Options for Pets

By Bob Walsmith Jr.
2022 President
Santa Barbara Affiliation of Realtors

For many of us, our pets are household. We allow them to sleep in our beds, ladle dietary dietary supplements on their natural kibble, and throw birthday events for them. Actually, we love our animal companions a lot that we even select a house and a house design for pets.

These numbers inform the story. Forty-three p.c of pet homeowners say they’d transfer to accommodate their pet, in response to a 2021 research from the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors. What’s extra, 68% of pet homeowners surveyed by Realtor.com say they’d go on an in any other case excellent dwelling that didn’t meet their pet’s wants.

Listed below are some pet-friendly options that can make a house extra welcoming for animals.

#1 A Pet Bathing Station

Washing a canine in a traditional bathtub may be depressing. Even when your pup is groomed often, you continue to want to wash them up after they romp on the canine park or roll in mud within the yard. One answer is to construct a grooming station in your house for fast cleanups. For bigger canines, you may set up a business grooming tub with a hand sprayer or a walk-in bathe that can accommodate your pet. The situation is versatile: A grooming station can go in a laundry room, mudroom, or storage.

#2 Pet Proof Flooring

Accidents occur, even with the best-behaved pets. That’s why flooring with a tough, impermeable floor make your life simpler. Suppose tile, hardwood, terrazzo, cement, or laminate. Steer clear of wall-to-wall carpet. Carpets take in pet stains, so that they’re a foul thought. Including wood flooring to your own home will increase financial worth, too.

#3 Constructed-In Pet Beds

Pet beds tossed about your home are unattractive and devour priceless ground house. The choice is constructing pet beds into cupboards, cabinets, and different items of furnishings. You may construct a pet mattress into the underside cabinets of a bookcase or right into a kitchen or mudroom cupboard. Or tuck it beneath the steps. If hiring a cabinetmaker or carpenter to construct a seamless pet mattress isn’t in your funds, you can even purchase pet beds that appear to be furnishings.

#4 Constructed-In Pet Gates

You don’t need your pets to enter sure locations in your house, and most of us hold them out with child gates. Plastic child gates are flimsy and unattractive. A greater choice is a built-in gate. You may rent a cabinetmaker to construct a customized pet gate for a door that’s mounted to a door jamb on hinges. Or contemplate pre-made upscale pet gates which you could mount to a door jamb or staircase.

#5 Outside Ramp

Identical to people, canines and cats can get too previous to simply navigate stairs. If stairs are separating your pet from the outside, construct a ramp from the door to the yard to make your home accessible as they age. Make certain you design the ramp at an angle they will navigate. Small or short-legged canines — like basset hounds and corgis — may have a ramp to navigate stairs even once they’re younger.

#6 Enclosed Cat Patio

Additionally referred to as a catio (cat + patio,) these out of doors enclosures present a protected place in your cat to play exterior. The construction, with a roof and 4 partitions, retains your cat protected and unable to hurt wildlife. Catios can vary from window-box sized ones to lanai-sized ones massive sufficient to surround a patio with human seating.

#7 Constructed-In Pet Doorways

These pet doorways with the rubber flaps and plastic frames that you just hack right into a door may be flimsy and straight-up ugly. Thankfully, sturdier and extra aesthetically pleasing alternate options can be found. You may get exterior doorways with built-in pet doorways. Integrating a pet door into your own home’s design is healthier for you and your pup as a result of it’s extra everlasting, safe, and beautiful.

#8  Fenced-In Yard

A fenced-in yard is close to the highest of most purchasers’ checklist once they’re in search of dog-friendly options. There’s no substitute for a protected place in your animals to spend time outdoor.

Bob Walsmith Jr. is a local to Southern California and a Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in Santa Barbara. Throughout his work with the Santa Barbara Affiliation of Realtors, Bob has served on the CORE Committee, Training Committee, been Chair of the Funds & Finance Committee, and the A number of Itemizing Service Committee. He is also on the Board of Administrators of the Alpha Useful resource Middle of Santa Barbara. Bob lives in Goleta along with his stunning spouse Julie. When not working, Bob enjoys enjoying golf, positive wine, positive eating, and strolling our stunning shoreline. Bob may be reached at 805.720.5362 and/or bob@bobwalsmithjr.com