House Hunting: Keep Your Pets Level and Happy While You Find Home

by Lori Madden 05/30/2021

Before finding your perfect house, you’ll undoubtedly visit at least 10 different properties for a good look around. If you’re navigating through a seller’s market, that number could increase considerably. All the while, your pet is likely waiting impatiently for things to return to normal, so they can enjoy having you home more often. Thankfully, you can make the process easier on them by using these tips to keep your pets happy while house hunting.

Wear Them Out Before You Go

A tired pet is a happy pet, so make sure to get them running and playing hard before you go. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity to wear out all their nervous energy and get them ready for a rest.

If you can incorporate fun brain games into the mix, like hide and seek, then they’ll be even more worn out by the time you’re done playing around. If you don’t have room for your pets to stretch their legs, play a little bit of fetch in the front room and roll out the puzzle games for an intense thinking session.

Hire a Trusted Pet Sitter

Most pets are not wild about being left alone for long stretches of time. They prefer a bit of company even if they are just loafing around the house. By hiring a pet sitter, you can keep them from getting lonely, while ensuring they get all their meals and potty breaks on time. You can even have the sitter take your pet on a walk around the neighborhood if you want to come home to a truly tired out pet.

Bring Home a Sweet Surprise

Pets absolutely love getting new toys and treats, so bring them home a sweet surprise after lengthy house hunting sessions. You could even stock up for future trips to avoid having to go to the pet store after every run. With that move, you’ll have a trunk full of goodies to share with your pet. If you find a house sooner than you thought, you can give them the rest as a housewarming gift.

Go on a Fun Outing When You’re Done

Although you cannot clearly explain to your pet why you’re away so much, you can make it up to them by going on a fun outing when you’re done. You could take them for a walk on a beach, go to a new park or hike through the woods for the afternoon.

Whatever you choose, make sure to bring along plenty of water and treats to keep your pet’s energy levels up while you’re out. If you want to make the trip even more memorable, stop by the pet store and let them pick out a new toy or treat.By using these tips before you head out for yet another round of open houses, your pet will look forward to your outings. You’ll notice far fewer stress signals as you get ready to go plus return to a happy pet.

About the Author

Lori Madden

As a Florida native growing up in Sarasota, I have seen my hometown grow from a sleepy coastal town to a highly sought-after destination along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After working in Chicago for 5 years, I returned to Sarasota and saw it through a new lens and really began to appreciate what makes Sarasota so desirable, including temperatures that allow for year round outdoor activities including tennis (a personal favorite), golf, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, or just relaxing and/or shelling on our pristine sandy shores, including Dr. Beach’s #1 beach in the United States for 2017, Siesta Key! Sarasota’s cultural amenities are many and diverse, appealing to a wide range of arts lovers. Downtown Sarasota has become a destination in itself, drawing many new developments for those who want to be within walking distance of Main Street's offerings and the picturesque bayfront and marina. Foodies will find an eclectic mix of locally owned and operated restaurants offering something for everyone, and there are now Farmers Markets every day of the week in various locations throughout Sarasota, but the Saturday morning Farmers Market in downtown Sarasota draws the biggest crowds. Since 1988, my passion has been selling real estate, representing both buyers and sellers. I have been recognized by my clients and customers for an uncompromising work ethic and dedication to helping them achieve their real estate goals. Relying on my experience as a real estate paralegal and being highly organized, I am able to help make the transition between contract and closing a smooth one for my clients. With an eye for interior and landscape design, I've been known to pitch in and help Sellers minimize and/or reorganize their belongings in order to stage their home to maximize its sale potential. I specialize in out of state buyers looking for their piece of paradise along the Gulf Coast and make it a priority to keep them up to date on our quickly changing local real estate market. I welcome the opportunity to share with you all Sarasota and her surrounding islands have to offer!