What could be more a part of the American Dream than a great
pet? I remember when Tim and I moved into our first home in
Hollister in 1991 when Ila was a baby. One of our first acts was to
get our Scottish Terrier, Boss Tweed. In fact, we brought him back
to a house still filled with unpacked boxes.
What could be more a part of the American Dream than a great pet? I remember when Tim and I moved into our first home in Hollister in 1991 when Ila was a baby. One of our first acts was to get our Scottish Terrier, Boss Tweed. In fact, we brought him back to a house still filled with unpacked boxes.
What was I thinking? Mind you, Boss died a few years back, and he is sorely missed. He was a big part of our lives for a long time. But really…new carpets, fresh paint and a puppy?
And of course, you can extrapolate with kittens, birds, reptiles and rodents, or (God forbid) primates. (Call me before you ever think about getting a monkey or other exotic pet. If you don’t you’ll kick yourself later.)
Pets cause damage in homes, just like the humans do. They claw or chew, have accidents or “on-purposes” if you’ve left them for the weekend. They knock things over. They play with the darndest things. And they eat anything they can get their mouths on.
No matter what you do, your house will take on a certain smell when you have pets. And the allergens will get throughout the air and surfaces and need to be disclosed in the TDS (transfer disclosure document) when you sell your home. I personally think that’s a small price to pay for the pleasure my cat Brian and my dachshund Alois bring to me.
Now open the door and let the pet outside. Whoa, doggies: Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who? We find ourselves in a whole new realm of possibility.
Our curious puppy naturally had to explore all the various tastes of plants, and discover just how deep those roots went down. Wow! Who’d have thought that slender shrub would have had such a big root ball.
Let’s talk about the barking dog. When you sell your home you’ll need to disclose if one of the reasons you’re leaving is that the neighbors behind you leave their hound chained up and it bays all day long.
Some people don’t want their dog going to the bathroom in their backyard, so they take Fido for a walk twice a day. Unfortunately a select few think it’s okay for Fido to use your front yard, and they don’t bother cleaning up after their pet.
Who can forget the first time we left our sandbox uncovered and our neighbor’s kitty thought she had died and gone to heaven? You really can’t be mad at an animal for doing what they do. I used to write the Neighborhood News for my old neighborhood. One of the most frequent complaints I got was from people upset that neighbors’ cats were using their yard as a cat box.
Then I moved to the country. Our neighbors (with horses) tell the story of the former owners (not fans of horses) who one time came to their door and requested that they do something to “keep your flies on your own property.” Now that would be something: I’d like to see those trained flies at work!
There is a fine balance between your rights as a homeowner and someone else’s right to have pets. It’s good to keep communication open and be a considerate neighbor.
Pets are like kids. They are a lot of work, require money to maintain, but they add a great deal to your life even if they are hell on the furniture. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding to add either one to your family!
Changing gears here, we find the market is more vibrant these days. There were quite a few homes coming on the market this past week, and there were sales. But the main indicator is one you can’t find in the numbers. I talk with agents in my office and from other offices each week. There definitely is an increase in the number of visitors coming through Open Houses. And walking through a brokerage you can feel the pulse by the upswing in calls, conversations and activity. After a year of relative calm, the excitement and energy is rising. The hum of adventure and opportunity is in the air. It’s going to be a great year!
To see what opportunities might await you, call your local Realtor today. Request a valuation of your home. Any Realtor will be happy to do that for you … and it won’t cost a thing. You can see what your equity position is in your property.
Before you undertake a remodel or renovation, talk with your Realtor. He or she can evaluate which of several options would optimize your resale value or increase your enjoyment of your home. Remember, we’re in many homes throughout the day. We might have a suggestion you never would have imagined.
Take a moment at the beginning of the year to make sure your home is adequately insured. Review your mortgage with your lender. Make a list of needed repairs and prioritize the time and money to complete them. All of these things add up to a well-maintained, safe home. Isn’t that what you want?
And be kind to your Realtor.
