I hope you are all doing great! This week, I am happy to welcome a guest blogger, Penny Martin. I think you’re going to enjoy her article. Especially if you have pets and are thinking of downsizing.

I have more articles I am working on for future posts. This week, I am also working on a new Home Value Stories podcast episode. Stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy Penny’s great article!

When you’re downsizing your home with a pet as your roommate, your animal may experience anxiety and uncertainty during the entire moving process. Consider the following three tips from the Cleveland Appraisal Blog for downsizing with a pet in tow.

1. Prep for the Upcoming Sale Without Stress

HGTV recommends that homeowners get in touch with a realtor first to determine what needs to be moved around or stored before you take pictures for the home’s online listing. Pets can become very anxious during this process if their favorite toys or beds are moved. Take pictures early on in the process, and get preapproved for your mortgage to figure out how much you can borrow. Getting preapproved before you’ve found a home can additionally allow you to move more quickly and thereby decrease your pet’s fears as well as your own anxiety about a lengthy moving process. Don’t forget to have your home measured and appraised as quickly as possible to get your current home on the market (and hopefully purchased) ASAP.

Create a safe space for your animal in an area that will not need to be changed during the selling process, such as the bathroom, the laundry room, or a spare bedroom that you have already photographed for the listing. If you plan to show the house in person, it’s best to take your pet out of the home with you as the realtor walks potential homeowners through the space. Be aware of your animal’s moods and think about using a calming medication or supplement if the process is especially difficult.

2. Decide What To Throw and What To Save

Your pet may start to panic if the downsizing process involves donating large furniture pieces, putting items in storage, or throwing away items that you no longer need. You can’t cater to your pet’s wishes all the time, especially as you downsize, and some of these changes will definitely cause anxiety for your animal. Speak softly and calmly to your pet and use the proper body language to try to convey the fact that you want this change to happen and that it will be OK for both of you. Reassure your pet that you will be staying together and ensure that your pet’s belongings are safe and not moved too much during the downsizing and moving process.

3. Consider Modifying Your New Home for Your Pet’s Safety

If your new home doesn’t have a fence and you plan on letting your pet roam your yard, it’s time to think about installing one. Most fences cost about $4,500 for the average homeowner, though this varies depending on the size and materials as well as location. Hop online, plug a term like “fencing companies near me” into your favorite search engine, and read reviews to create your short list of licensed and insured contractors. Contact three or four to get quotes and to ensure they can locate property lines and work with an awareness of underground utilities that may complicate the installation of your fence. Also think about installing a doggy door, a cat perch, a screen door, and any other modifications that may make your pet feel more at home in your new residence.

Pet anxiety is a reality that you won’t be able to avoid when moving. To minimize this, keep your pet’s belongings in a safe, stationary spot and move them to the new place at the same time you move your pet. Follow the above tips for a safe, calm moving process and your animal friend will likely adapt to your new, cozier home sooner rather than later.

photos taken from unsplash

Penny, thank you so much for sharing these great tips with us! I hope that you all enjoyed this post!

By the way, if you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy an article from Your Dog Advisor.com, entitled, “Do Dogs Know When You are Sad? Can Dogs Sense Sadness? Here’s What We Know“. This is a very interesting article and a great resource for pet lovers. Enjoy!

I’ll be back in two weeks with a new blog that is more focused on real estate valuation. I enjoy taking a break from it from time to time. I hope that you do as well!

This week I leave you with a little humor to start of the weekend. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, check out my podcast. I hope you enjoy it! You can find me on Apple Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Play Music, Sound Cloud, Radio.com, RadioPublic, Deezer, Breaker, Stitcher as well as other feeds.

You can also listen right here at Cleveland Appraisal Blog!

www.homevaluestories.libsyn.com

If you are interested in stats, and nothing but the stats, for neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio, check out my other podcast. In it, I provide short episodes that provide you with stats on median sales prices, marketing times, housing inventory and other related stats, on specific neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio. You can find me on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Play Music, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public or you can listen right here at the Cleveland Appraisal Blog.

www.anchor.fm/cash-appraiserstats.com

I am a member of the National Association of Appraisers. If you’re an appraiser, and you’re looking to join an appraisal organization, please check them out. The NAA is made up of fantastic appraisers from across the country who are working hard to keep their fellow appraisers up to date on what’s happening.

Click here to visit their website.

Here are some links to other articles I’ve enjoyed recently! I hope you will also…

Housing My Excitement: Miller Samuel Turns 35 Today – Housing Notes by Jonathan Miller – Happy anniversary! You’ve made me a better appraiser!

You Can Never Win an Argument – The Brian Buffini Show (PODCAST)

Goodbye single family zoning – Sacramento Appraisal Blog

September Newsletter – It’s Fall Ya’ll – DW Slater Company Blog (I love the new look!)

Statistics: Part of Modernized Valuation? – George Dell’s Analogue Blog

Shelby County Luxury Home Market Update – 2021 – Birmingham Appraisal Blog