The importance of furry family members
A Nation of dog lovers
Here in the USA, around 90 million families own a pet of which almost 70 million own at least one dog (according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association). That’s a lot of people and like me, people want and need to take their dogs with them when they use temporary furnished housing.
I have experienced several stays in furnished rentals with our dog, Sal, in tow. The experience begins at the bookings stage, when you add your pet as a guest, and immediately your options fall dramatically. You are then left with either a limited selection or you start contacting hosts asking if they would consider accepting your furry family member.
Pup needs a home too!
Let’s talk numbers
As an experiment, I ran a few searches on some popular Airbnb destinations to see how many hosts are catering to pets. I used the same criteria for each search assuming a 30-night stay in the same week in August for 3 guests, one dog, and a house to ourselves. For Charleston, SC, 26% of the listings allowed pets, for Miramar Beach, FL, and Savannah, GA 19% of the listings allowed pets and in Stonington, CT 27% of properties are pet friendly. To give the stats a boost I thought I’d give California a chance to compete, the state, that arguably is the most pet friendly in the country. For my own furnished rental community here in Riverside County, pet-friendly properties rose to a magnificent 36%. So even here, that’s almost two-thirds of properties that exclude themselves from the market.
Bottom-line benefits of being pet-friendly
With a demand for pet-friendly rentals and not a lot of supply, there’s an opportunity in being pet friendly.
Being pet friendly puts you in a stronger position as the category has less competition, increasing your chances of being booked. If you cater to the insurance housing market, a family with a dog will simply not be able to consider your home.
You can increase your rates. It’s accepted practice that pet owners will pay more for a rental when bringing their pets. Indeed, compared to the rates at a pet hotel, or pet sitter, an upcharge is not unreasonable. Just ensure that you are also recovering all the costs associated with additional cleaning, maintenance, or amenities that you are offering and you charge an appropriate pet deposit.
With an increase in bookability comes an increase in occupancy.
Making your rental home pet friendly helps profitability
How to make your rental dog friendly
Making a dog-friendly rental takes some consideration and careful planning. There are several benefits but it does come with additional work and expense which needs to be factored in.
If you do decide to offer your rental property as pet-friendly, there are several things you can do to make it easier on yourself as well as offer the best experience for your tenant guests.
Design Choices
Flooring. Consider the materials you use within your property. For example, if you are renovating or making any improvements to flooring, hard surfaces are easier to clean. LVP and tile are both great options. If you are carpeting, go for a durable-high traffic variety. For the best durability go for a low pile, Berber or looped carpet where the fibers are short or densely woven so they don't trap and hide dog hair and pet dander. Stainmaster carpet is great as an industry standard for stain resistance as it resists absorbing spills and is easier to clean overall.
Leather sofa and a throw for a durable dog-friendly laze
Upholstery. The key for upholstery is to use “forgiving fabrics”. Investing in easy-to-clean, pet-friendly performance fabrics, like Sunbrella or Crypton helps against worrying about dirty paws. Selecting designs that have some texture will show pet hair less between cleanings. Performance velvets have a cut pile so fur and hair are unlikely to weave themselves into the fabric and can easily be vacuumed off. Stain, fade, and scratch-resistant leathers or suedes are also good options.
Rugs. When choosing a rug, go for designs that have patterns and texture so any pet hair or marks are less noticeable between cleans. Consider indoor/outdoor rugs, especially in high-traffic areas. Typically made with durable, stain-resistant polypropylene, it’s easier and cheaper to clean outdoor rugs. In cases of light dirt, you can freshen up your rug with a simple rinse from the garden hose and leave it outside to dry in the sun. There are also some great design options in the washable rug sector. Ruggable, for example, (www.ruggable.com) has area rugs that are made with a waterproof fabric, stain resistant, and machine washable with many stylish designs and sizes.
Outdoors Design. For the safety of your pet guests ensure that your property is fenced and secure. Consider creating an area where dogs can be encouraged to relieve themselves or an artificial turf spot. Be mindful of the types of plants you have (both inside and outside), to ensure you don’t have plants that can be harmful or toxic.
Let your guests know about local dog-friendly walks and parks
Hospitality Ideas
Tenants will appreciate your accommodations for their furry family members. Some ideas include providing;
a designated spot with bowls for feeding and water
a few essential poop bags
a pet bed with a washable cover – the washable part is really important!
a throw or blanket for those end-of-the-bed doggy sleepers! (again, machine washable).
extra bed linens and sheets for emergencies
a washable rubber chew toy
a list of local dog parks or dog-friendly walking trails and beaches
suggestions for local dog-friendly cafes/restaurants
clear guidelines in your Guests Welcome Manual about your pet rules
Offering your rental to include a man’s best friend can bring various benefits to your business, not to mention how important it is to tenants to have their furry family members with them, in what can be very unsettling times.
For hosts considering making the move to being a pet-friendly rental who need help making the best design and hospitality choices, let us know how we can help.