Here’s a guest post from Marjorie at workingclasswow.com:

With the real estate market sizzling right now, there’s never been a better time to sell your home. If you’re looking for increased freedom and flexibility, you might want to cash in and become a renter. Renting allows you to try out new neighborhoods and avoid the unexpected costs that come along with homeownership. If you’re moving with a pet in tow, you might be worried about the process of relocating your furbaby. But with the right game plan, you could be settled into an amazing new location before you know it.

Today, Decker Properties has some tips and resources to get you started on the right track.

Get Ready to Sell

One of the perks of selling your home is the opportunity it provides to downsize and declutter your belongings. Donate items you no longer need or use. You could even consider selling some of your stuff to offset moving costs. Research the housing market in your area and depersonalize the space by removing family photos or other items with too much “character” to help your listing get maximum attention from buyers. You want to help buyers envision themselves and their possessions in your space.

As much as we love our pets, pet-related items can make your home seem more cluttered than it is. Gather up all of your furry friend’s toys, treats, and other accessories and stash them in a closet, storage area, or garage. You want them out of sight when you take real estate photos or anytime a potential buyer comes to tour your home.

Last but certainly not least, schedule movers as soon as possible. Trying to schedule a moving company at the last minute can cause a lot of problems, so take care of this step early in the process.

Relocate Your Pet First

If you can, try to line up a new home before closing the sale on your current place. If you can swing a month or two of rent without the proceeds from your current sale, it’ll definitely save you some stress. Plus, your cat or dog will have more time to acclimate to the new surroundings. Get them a larger crate or some new toys to give them an additional feeling of security, but you also want to make sure you’re getting a trustworthy product, so checking online reviews can be a big help.

If you can’t move into your permanent location right away, there are lots of short-term care options for cats and dogs. You could ask a friend to pet-sit or find a pet-friendly vacation rental. Or you can work with a business to place your beloved pet in a pre-screened, pre-approved private home where they’ll get undivided attention and superior care!

Keep this in mind when relocating with your pet: they’re going to be stressed. So, whenever possible, take steps to lessen your own stress levels. Animals are very sensitive to our emotions; when we’re upset, they can get upset. This can be doubly compounded if you bring work-related stress home with you at the end of the day. So, keep calm, take deep breaths, and focus on your pet and get them acclimated to their new home.

Finding Pet-Friendly Apartments

More and more landlords are realizing that tenants with pets are more reliable and responsible than non-pet owners. That’s why it’s easier than ever to find great apartments that allow a dog or cat with a small deposit.

To start your search, view online listings and select your ideal neighborhood. You can limit your results to apartments close to public transportation, shopping, medical care, or work. From there, be sure to filter by pet-friendliness and indicate how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll need. Always read the fine print on listings; some have a weight limit for dogs or have a limit of only one pet.

Before moving your pet into your home, make sure to pet-proof the space. Secure your furniture, keep chemicals and cleaning supplies locked away, and install outlet covers to prevent electrical shock.

Reap the Benefits of Downsizing

You may find that you love the renter’s lifestyle. Without the obligations of a home, you’ll be able to enjoy having more free time to explore the city – with your pet by your side.

Decker Properties traces its inception to 1986 with the acquisition of its first small apartment building. The company today owns and manages hundreds of apartments throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Call 262-785-0840.

Life can be ruff. Or maybe for you, it’s purrrfect. But whether your furry favorites go ruff or purr, we’ve got the solution: a pet friendly home at Decker Properties. Here’s everything you need to know:

PET ADDENDUM (Example)

**Dogs are only allowed at certain properties, check with your on-site manager first.

Monthly rent charge and Deposit

• 1 dog: $50 per month / $200 deposit
• 2 dogs: $75 per month / $400 deposit
• 1 cat: $25 per month / $200 deposit
• 2 cats: $50 per month / $400 deposit
• 1 caged pet: $100 deposit
• 2 caged pets: $200 deposit
• 1 dog, 1 cat: $75per month/$400 deposit

Pet’s owner agrees to the following terms and conditions.

• Pets shall be defined as dogs, cats, or caged animals only; no additional animals shall be permitted. No more than two (2) pets may be kept at the property. This applies to any pet type or combination of pets, ex: 1 dog, 1 caged animal, is still two pets.
• The pet’s individual weight shall not exceed thirty-five (35) pounds. Weight shall be calculated based on the estimated full maturity of the breed. In the event there are two pets, the combined weight should not exceed thirty-five (35) pounds.
• With the exception at Catalina Crossing – McFarland: The pet’s individual weight shall not exceed thirty-five (35), and two pets combined should not exceed fifty (50) pounds.
• Only the pet(s) authorized pets are to be kept on the premises. Tenant shall not keep any animal or pet in or around the rental premises without Landlord’s prior written approval. No unauthorized animals may reside temporarily or permanently on the premises.
• Pet(s) will not cause danger, damage, nuisance, noise, health hazard, or soil the apartment and premises, grounds, common areas, walks, parking areas, landscaping, or gardens.
• Tenant agrees to register, license, and immunize the pet(s) in accordance with local laws and requirements and other enforceable regulations regarding any pet.
• Tenant agrees to clean up after the pet(s) and agrees to accept full responsibility and liability for any damage, injury, or actions arising from or caused by the pet(s).
• Tenant agrees to not leave food or water for the pet or any other animal outside the dwelling.

The tenant agrees to observe the following regulations:

• Dogs and cats must be always controlled and kept on a short leash while in common areas or on the grounds.
• Proper disposal of cat litter (securely bagged) will be done on a frequent basis to ensure that there is no odor.
• Dogs shall not be chained to a stake and left unattended.
• Cats must be spayed or neutered with proof from a veterinary.
• DNA Testing
  • A mouth swab shall be taken from all dogs for DNA
  • There will be a one-time $50 charge per dog paid by tenant for this test
  • Any dog waste disposed of by landlord shall be DNA
  • Failure by tenant to properly dispose of any dog waste shall result in a $100 charge per occurrence and shall be regarded as a violation of the lease.
  • A third occurrence will result in you removing your dog from the property.

Landlord may introduce further criteria to the pet policy at any time.

Prohibited Breeds:

No aggressive dogs will be allowed. Landlord reserves the right to make final determination of eligibility based on various factors including but not limited to appearance, temperament, personality, and behavioral history.

Akitas – Alaskan Malamute – Cane Corso – Chow Chow – Doberman Pinscher – German Shepherd Great Dane – Mastiff – Mixed Breeds – Pit Bull Terrier – Presa Canario – Rottweiler – Siberian Huskie – Staffordshire Terrier – Wolf-hybrids – All terriers – Mixed breeds with any of the above restricted breeds.

Caged Animals:

A tenant may not have more than two caged animals at any one time. Caged animals may not be bred. A caged animal should not be allowed outside of its cage or tank without direct supervision of the tenant. Caged animals allowed are gerbils, guinea Pigs, hamsters, rabbits. All other caged animal, rodents or insects are not permitted.

Updated 01/23/2023

Photo by miz fiat from Flickr using Creative Commons license.

On December 16, 2016, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray signed legislation which restricts the total amounts landlords may charge for move-in fees. This legislation took effect January 15, 2017, and enacts the following:

– Pet damage deposits may not exceed 25% of the first full month’s rent, and landlords cannot charge any other fees for allowing a pet.

– Monthly pet rent is not allowed as a part of any new agreement signed January 15, 2017 or later.

So you’re probably wondering, how can this possibly be bad? Isn’t it a bonanza for pet owners? Welcome to the reality of unintended consequences. Continue reading →

San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Oakland, Calif., and Portland, Ore., are the most pet-friendly rental markets in the country, according to a report from Trulia.

Cats are the preferred pet among landlords. On a national level, 20% of rental units welcome cats, 18% permit small dogs and big dogs are allowed at 4% of properties, the report found.

Added rental costs are common for pet owners, including deposits, fees and higher rents. However, 78% of the listings only charged one of these fees and 22% charged two, said Ralph McLaughlin, housing economist at Trulia. “It’s very unlikely you will get hit with all three.”

Trulia analyzed seven factors to determine the rankings, including the number of listings on its website that allow pets, the costs associated with renting as a pet owner and the concentration of pet-related businesses. The study included properties listed in the 25 biggest rental markets . . .

Read more at CNN Money

The Milwaukee area wasn’t in the report because we don’t live in one of the top 25 US markets. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a great apartment that will accept pets like the apartments you can find at Decker Properties. Our pet-friendly policy allow you to bring your friendly companion home with you. Bring your pet to the The Fairways Apartments in Fond du Lac, Riverdale Apartments in Little Chute, or any of our other fine apartments across southeast Wisconsin. Call us at (262) 785-0840 to schedule a visit.

See our blog post “Bad News for Pet Owners”