Bailey got a dog this year…..we (our family) have never had one….and it is more work than you can ever imagine! Haha – but rewarding. I am enjoying having a pet in my life more than I expected to!
I work with clients that have pets every day. PETS are family. They are a priority! And since Covid – I see even more and more people becoming pet owners.
In our job – education is SO important. With all aspects of real estate – but with PETS – it is critical to work with an agent who KNOWS the rules and restrictions. Can you imagine the excitement of taking possession – getting your new keys – and putting “Fido” on a leash to enter your new building – and being STOPPED. What???? Dogs are NOT allowed? No recourse. Money has transferred.
And now your FAMILY member – can NOT live with you…….
It’s essential to verify the pet bylaws of any condominium building BEFORE signing on the dotted line. You NEED to know if the building allows dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, snakes or other types of pets you may have at home, and if you have more than one pet, how MANY are allowed???!!! Some buildings have rules about height, weight, breed. If you see a dog – don’t assume you can have one too!
Rules can CHANGE in a building. So past owners can have their pets….but new owners are not allowed to bring one.
It’s also important to remember that one condo could have very different pet bylaws from another. Therefore, you’ll always want to do your due diligence – and inspect the list of rules and regulations yourself – or request that it be reviewed by a professional on your behalf. Sometimes there will be a condo-wide restriction on pets altogether, which can make or break a transaction for any pet lover. Make sure you work with an agent that knows how to find this information – BEFORE you view something and fall in love!
Even if you find a building that says they ACCEPT pets – make sure that you write in a Pet Approval form the Board as a CONDITION OF SALE! Written confirmation is a must! Get it in writing – so there are no surprises when it’s time to move in. If in doubt, research, read and understand the exact terms of pet ownership in the new condo.
I have had one client be DENIED the ability to purchase in a building – when someone on the board rejected our Pet Application. Her dog was small. We submitted an application with a photo – breed – weight – age etc. Apparently “Diesel” was 2 pounds over the weight limit – which fun fact was posted NOWHERE in the Bylaws!
*Interesting to note, that my buyer was purchasing something in a building where the elevator was broken, so Diesel would have probably lost 2 pounds pretty quickly going up and down the stairs!!!!!
I am always shocked that the “rules” of pet ownership in condos or apartments – shock buyers!
READ the rules about WHERE your pet can walk, use the fire hydrant etc. I have had people ASSUME – they can just let their dog out onto the common area to do their business! Here in Calgary, there are often strict rules about locations for this. Even if your unit is ground floor – you may have to carry your dog to a non common area location!!!! Some buildings, the residents use baby strollers to transport their pets off the condo land!!!!!
Also check on things like Aquariums…..I have seen Bylaws that state they are not allowed due to risk of water damage. When I explain these things to NEW buyers – they are so surprised and even shocked that their lifestyle can be chosen for them. Often the rules deter them – from buying an apartment or condo product – and push them to a detached or semi detached or townhouse without condo restrictions.
Familiarizing yourself with each buildings PET policies is the first step in determining which building is suitable for you AND your pet! AVOID the disappointment and CHECK FIRST!!!!!!
We can help! We are experts at sourcing information for our buyers – to help them make the right BUYING decisions – for their entire FAMILY!!!!!
