A Pet Owner’s Guide to Downsizing
The decision to downsize will provide you with numerous benefits such as lower maintenance costs, and easier upkeep. But, moving into a smaller space could be a challenging experience for your pet. Additionally, you will need to oversee the tasks of packing, moving, and unpacking while keeping your pet’s wellbeing in mind. For pet owners planning to downsize, this article will provide insights about making a smooth transition into their new home.
Find a Pet-Friendly Home
Depending on your preference you can choose between a house, apartment, or condo. While homes often provide an outdoor space that is ideal for pets, apartment complexes boast of having dedicated pet areas and amenities as well. Another great option is to move into pet-friendly housing communities managed by Palm View Village. All homes in their communities are fully furnished and include appliances. This translates to you saving hundreds or thousands of dollars which you’d have to spend on purchasing home necessities post-move. Additionally, they include amenities such as dog parks, outdoor recreation centers, and workspace areas, providing the best balance of needs between you and your pet.
Have a Financial Plan
Even before you start looking at homes, invest time towards creating a budget that accounts for the expenses of buying your new home, closing costs, moving expenses, and cost of living in the new location. Additionally, if you plan to take a mortgage, make sure to calculate your debt to income ratio i.e.
Total of all Monthly Debt Payments / Gross Monthly Income
As reported by Redfin, if your ratio exceeds 35%, lenders may hesitate to approve your mortgage. To reduce your ratio, aim to repay all existing debts, and avoid maxing out your credit card each month.
Additionally, during the move, you are bound to face some unplanned costs. To avoid struggling to afford such costs, have a safety fund at your disposal.
Declutter Your Home
A smaller home means less space, hence you will need to take a call on what stays and goes. While small items such as clothes, cutlery, etc. won’t pose a problem, you’ll need to discard some or all of your furniture.
To avoid turning your home inside-out, plan to work one room at a time. Additionally, create a labeling system that includes writing the room name and item type on the box. While this may seem tedious while packing, it’ll save you the pain of going through a dozen boxes to find specific things while settling into your new home.
Train Your Pet for the Transition
Once you start packing, your pet is bound to pick up on the activity around the home. While you may not be able to explain to them that you’ll be moving soon, you can start training them for their new lifestyle, here’s how:
If your new home lacks outdoor space, start limiting your dog from playing in the backyard. Rather take them out for long walks and dog parks.
If you need to tweak their feeding routine, it’s best to begin as early as possible. This will be important if you are moving to a state in a different time zone.
As reported by Paws, for puppies and cats, inculcate the habit of being in the cage for an extended period of time. Because while moving you may not be able to let them be free. You can entice your pet to spend more time in the cage by giving them food or placing their favorite toy and blanket inside.
Arrange All Necessities
A week or two before moving, call all your service providers to change the address on your account. This will result in any paperwork or invoices being sent to your new address. Similarly, connect with your pet’s current vet and ask for a copy of all your records. This can include test results, check-up routines, procedures, etc. Often vets can transfer all your data to your new clinic, however, if that’s not possible, having paper copies will allow you to personally provide all important information to your pet’s new doctor.
By following these steps you’ll ensure your pet has a smooth moving experience and is able to adjust to their new surroundings with ease.