The decision to downsize brings various benefits such as lower utility costs, higher cash flow, and ease of upkeep. But, for your pet, moving to a smaller home can prove to be a challenge, that is unless you are moving to San Diego, California. Why? The reason is simple; San Diego is a pet’s paradise. The city has year-round warm weather, countless parks, numerous beaches, and pet-friendly establishments, allowing your pet to experience a higher standard of living than before.

While your pet will still need to undergo a transition period, explore some ideas to help make the relocation process easy for the both of you.

Tackle the Home Buying Process

Downsizing will require you to work on finding a new home and selling the current one simultaneously. To make this process easy, consider working with a real estate agent who undertakes the responsibility of finding buyers and prospective properties and helping you prepare the home for sale. Here are a few things you should undertake when staging the home for buyer visits:

• Purge the space of all excess items such as decorations, furniture, utensils, electronics, etc. Not only will this make the home feel spacious, but it’ll also reduce moving costs and make packing easier.

• Depersonalize the space by removing items such as family pictures, paintings, sculptures, etc. This allows buyers to visualize how they can decorate the space, and get a feel for what it’ll be like living in the home.

Simultaneously work on a list of home requirements to be shared with the agent. This should include a balance of needs for you and your pet, such as:

• A home office
• An outdoor space
• Ample storage space
• Property located in proximity to parks

Additionally, you may need to plan a few modifications to make your new home pet friendly. Hence, remember to include the cost of modifications in your relocation budget. A few modifications to consider include:

• Installing a Fence: With a fence, you can allow your pet to roam freely outdoors without the fear of them escaping the property. On average, installing a fence costs $4500, but will depend on the size and type of items used. An online search for fence companies near me will provide you with a list of great contractors to choose from.

• New Flooring: Having carpets is a big no with pets. Instead, consider installing luxury vinyl plank flooring as it is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and affordable, as reported by Mannington.com.

Have a Smooth Moving Experience

Once you have a moving date in mind, connect with movers in your area and ask for quotes. Compare prices, reviews, and offers to choose the one that best suits your needs. Inform them of your pet so they can be prepared come moving day and accommodate any requests.

As for your pet, start training them for their new lifestyle. This can include, increasing the time they spend indoors, taking them outside only for long walks, and maintaining a fixed feeding schedule. Come moving day keep them in a locked room away from the commotion, if possible have someone be with them in the room or check on them at regular intervals.

Once the movers have left, transfer your pet to your personal vehicle. Ideally, keep them in a crate during the travel, but as reported by Wag Walking, if it’s a long-distance move, make a few stops to let them out for brief periods.

One of the first things you should do on reaching your new home is to help your pet settle in a room away from all the commotion. Set up their bed, and give them their toys and food if needed. The idea is to keep them occupied with the mover’s unload, allowing you to supervise and instruct them on where belongings need to be placed.

In the days following the move, take your pet around the neighborhood for walks, allowing them to learn as much as they can about their new surroundings.

Relocating with a pet is never easy, but with sound planning and help from a few professionals, you can keep the chaos in check and have a smooth relocation experience

Guest article by Cindy Aldridge

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