Integration of pets into residential complexes
Category Home tips
Pet lovers make up a significant percentage of homeowners and place their pets at the top of their list of priorities when moving into a new house. But having a pet used to mean additional effort and trouble in the search for a new home. This required extensive research into pet-friendly apartments and complexes for their furry family members.
CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate, Mike Greeff, offers his thoughts on the subject, "Pets have become an integral part of people's lives and many buyers will not even consider moving into a complex that does not afford their pets a measure of rights. Buyers should always be cognisant of the rules and regulations of body corporates or homeowners associations prior to making their move. This will allow them to fully understand their rights as well as their responsibilities within the complex."
Demand for pet-friendly apartments is definitely on the rise with buyers willing to pay more for access to pet amenities. Services like Animal Daycare in the city including atFrits, Proud Hounds and Bowhaus, animal hospitals or parks to walk your pooch or feline are in high demand with pet owners and immediately make an area more appealing to buyers. This demand has not gone unnoticed with sellers listing these amenities as specific selling points when marketing their homes.
When contemplating moving into a new apartment, it would be prudent to carefully read through the Code of Conduct or Rules that have been put in place by the Body Corporate of the complex to check if and what type of pets are allowed. The rules would also specify the number of animals allowed and also what limitations may apply - the breed of animals, noise, access to common areas of the property etc. The more specific rules are, the better it is in terms of having a perfectly clear understanding of your rights and responsibilities. By making the choice to live in that complex you automatically agree to abide by rules. You also agree to any fines that may be the result of you breaking the rules at any given time.
The rules and regulations for freestanding homes in secure estates are slightly different the homes usually have some yard space, allowing it to be more pet-friendly. There would more than likely be some rules put in place by the Homeowners Association. A good idea would be to meet the potential new neighbours prior to moving in just to get a feel for their stance on pets and to possibly make friends before moving in with your pet.
Moving to a new house with pets is always a challenge. Pets need time to adjust to new surroundings as well as a new routine. Here are some tips to make sure you and your pet are comfortable and prepared for a move:
Try to spread out packing over a month or two, so that your pet does not get worried by a sudden change in their environment.
Up-to-date ID tags are essential in case the worst happens and your pet gets lost.
Once you arrive at your new home, keep your pet confined to a room with food and water until all the activity has died down.
Before you allow them to explore their surroundings, make sure everything is pet friendly, and that the perimeter fence is completely secure.
As pet owners it would be the best course of action to check what rights are afforded to your furry friends prior to making any moves, ultimately providing peace of mind that is vital when moving to a new home.
Author: Greeff
