Looking for a place to live with that allows pets can be tough. For better luck landing an apartment for you and your pet, follow these five tips on being the perfect renter.
When I moved into my first place, there was no question that my dog would be coming with me. She was a medium-sized poodle, and she was my best friend. I sat down with the classified ads and began to make a list of places that I could afford – and as a student, that was not a long list.
As I began to call potential landlords, a familiar pattern emerged. The conversation went along well enough, until I told them I had a dog – you’d think I was a telemarketer calling at dinner, the times I got hung on! Finding a place to live with a dog was proving to be a near impossible task.
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That’s when I altered my approach. I called up potential landlords and told them I had a small, well trained, non-shedding dog. At least this time they didn’t hang up on me! I went into detail of our routine each day, and the training that I had done with my dog. Upon demonstrating that I was a responsible owner, I was able to prove that I could also be a good tenant.
Here are a few tips I learned from being a tenant in the apartment hunting game:
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As pet owners, we understand that our pets are our families. Landlords may not understand the special bond you have with your pet, and that’s okay. It’s up to you to show them that you are responsible pet owner. You are an ideal tenant because you take care of your responsibilities; this includes taking care of your rental home.
