You and your best furry, feathery, scaly, flying, crawling or slithering best friend have decided to move to a new apartment. You’ve even scoped out a few cool places online and you’re scheduled to visit the properties. Make sure both you and your pets move into a safe and fun environment, by asking plenty of questions before signing any lease contracts.
- First of all, find out if the community is pet friendly. Seeing a place that will not welcome your pets just sets you up for heartache. And it would be unwise to sneak in your beloved furry companion, because sooner, rather later, the property manager will find out.
- Enquire what species of pets are allowed – just because a community accepts German Shepards it doesn’t mean they will welcome your boa or parrot.
- Check for breed restrictions. Check if the restrictions extend to mixes – while one place might allow your pit-bull mutt to move in, another might not.
- Also check for weight restrictions. You might consider waiting with moving until your pup grows up or choosing an apartment complex that has liberal or no weight restriction at all if you own a rescued puppy. He might be just a tiny furball of love now, but one year from now, you might just be able to ride into battle on his back.
- After you found out the community’s renter’s insurance policy, enquire about its pet insurance policy. Although a community might not require you to have one, getting Pet Damage Coverage can save you a lot of stress down the line. You might have the best trained dog in town, but you never know when he takes a fancy to the community room carpet or decides his favorite new scratching post is the foosball table. It also makes you look like a very responsible renter and pet owner.
- Ask for the exact leash policy of your potential new apartment. Some places might require you to have Rex on a leash (and even muzzled) when walking with him in the community.
- Don’t forget about pet rent. Some communities may charge you a one-time fee for Catticus Finch, others might have a monthly extra fee.
- Be forthcoming about all your pets. Just because a community doesn’t specifically restrict spider monkeys or tigers, it doesn’t mean they welcome them either. Don’t be that guy.
- Ask about the community’s landscaping. Some plants can be highly poisonous to pets.
- Ask about the neighborhood’s stray animal community. If your cat is outside a lot, stray dogs and cats can pose a risk to her life.
- If the community and you and your furry family are compatible, ask for recommendations for pet-friendly attractions in the area, such as vets, pet stores, pet friendly parks, kennel clubs, etc.
