You found your dream home and the seller picked your offer. The time has come, it’s moving day! If you are a pet owner, your first concern may be making Fido as comfortable as possible during the transition.
We are here to help! Check out these four tips for moving with pets.
1. Traveling
Decide how you’re going to get to your new home. Are you going to drive or fly? You may put your pet in a crate during the move. If you do, it’s a good idea to put their favorite blanket in the crate with them.
If traveling by car, take plenty of bathroom stops and try to find a place to rest for a few minutes so your pet can roam and get some fresh air. If you have to stop overnight at a hotel, find a pet-friendly accommodation in advance since not all hotels allow pets. If you’re flying, there is an extra step you have to take. Typically, larger pets can’t travel in-cabin. Check with the airline in advance about what they allow and any fees. You can learn more about flying with a dog here.
You should talk to your vet before long-distance traveling with your pet. Take extra care if they are old or have an underlying health condition.
2. Transitioning
Moving can be really stressful for everyone involved, including your pets! Don’t be too worried if Fido starts to get anxious. This is normal! Make sure their favorite blanket, toy, crate, chair, etc. is easily accessible in your new place before they arrive. Don’t forget to change their microchip to your new address after you move.
3. Pet Proofing Your New Home
Leave an unwashed towel with your pet(s) for a few days (or weeks) so they have a familiar scent. Try to arrange your furniture (and theirs) in a similar fashion to how they were in your old home. This will make their space feel more like home. If you have a fenced in yard, check for loose boards or escape routes to ensure your pet doesn’t flee their new home. While you’re outside, take a look around to make sure there are no toxic plants or other chemicals in the yard.
4. Schedule
Even if you moved to a new time zone, it’s good to keep your pet’s schedule as close to the same as it was in the old home at least in the first few weeks. This includes their walks, feeding, and playtime.
Bottom Line For Homebuyers
Moving can be stressful, but it can be more stressful when you have pets! Tips like arranging furniture in your new home like it was before, leaving unwashed towels and blankets out, and updating your address in their microchip(s) can make the move much less stressful for you and your pet!
Pets are an important part of our Apex Home Loans family. That’s why we’ve partnered with Operation Fido. In doing so, we provide a new pet tag for each of our borrowers that has a pet once you close on your home with us. Moving is stressful enough (especially for pet parents) this is just another simple way for us to say thank you for trusting us with their biggest investment, and to make the process as smooth as possible. This isn’t the only perk to working with us. Want more info? Contact us today!
Topics: Moving Tips, Home Buying Tips, Home Buyer Tips, Home Buyers, homebuying process, Moving With Pets
