One of the most important things that you can do when shopping around for a piece of real estate is to ensure that every member of your family is going to be comfortable in that home, and for many people, dogs are going to be considered a part of that family. Listed below are two home features to look for when you have dogs.
Carpeted Floors
The first home feature that you should look for when you have dogs is carpeted floors, mostly for the comfort of the dogs and your own peace of mind. The reason that carpeted floors are such a good choice for the comfort of your dogs is that they can provide a soft and cushioned place for them to lay down throughout the day.
In addition, the cushioning provided by the carpet and the pad underneath the carpet is helpful when your dog is older and suffering from arthritis and joint pain as there won't be as harsh of an impact on his or her joints every time your dog walks across the floor. The unyielding surface of a tile or wood floor is actually much harder on an older dog's joints and can cause unnecessary pain.
Now, carpeted floors can also be very helpful in maintaining your peace of mind because they will be able to muffle the sound that is made when your dogs are running throughout the house. With hardwood floors or tile, you will hear your dog's claws clicking away like mad every time they decide to start playing and running. Also, a dog's claws can very easily leave deep and permanent scratches in hardwood flooring.
Singe-Story Living
Another important feature to consider when looking for a home where you will be living with your dogs is single-story living. Sure, a lot of people like the idea of moving into a multi-story home, but this is often not the best fit when you have dogs.
One of the reasons for this is that you do not want to have to constantly negotiate those stairs whenever your dog needs to go outside in the middle of the night or in the early morning. This is especially true if either you or your dog are older, mostly because the stairs can be really hard on your or your dog's body.
Make an appointment with a local real estate agent today in order to discuss the features that you are looking for in a new home that will be a nice fit for both you and your dogs. Carpeted floors and single-story living are two of the best features to look for when buying a home that will be comfortable for you and your dogs for many years to come.
