Don’t just make your client happy—consider their animal companions too. After all, nearly 95% of pet-owning home buyers say their pet’s needs play a role in selecting a home. In fact, 68% of pet owners say they would pass on the perfect home if it didn’t meet what their pet’s needs, according to a new survey based on more than 2,000 consumer responses released by realtor.com®. Consumers between the ages of 35 and 54 were the most likely to pass on an otherwise perfect home for the sake of their pet.
The National Association of REALTORS® also released a pet survey last month that showed the crucial role pets play in guiding real estate decisions. Forty-three percent of consumers in the NAR survey said they would be willing to move in order to better accommodate their pet.
In the realtor.com® survey, pet owners gave high preference to homes with large yards and outdoor space. Consumers also ranked a garage, dog run, close proximity to outdoor space, and large square footage as important accommodations for their pets.
“The results of this survey reinforce that our pets are our family and an important part of what makes a house a home,” says Nate Johnson, chief marketing officer at realtor.com®.
Of the 2,000 survey respondents, dogs were the most common pet, followed by cats. But other pets also had an influence in real estate decisions, too, the survey found. For example, 89% of bird owners, 85% of fish owners, 80% of reptile owners, 79% of rodent owners, and 74% of horse owners indicated their pet would factor into their real estate decisions.
Source: realtor.com(R)
