More homeowners are putting an emphasis on their pets’ priorities when home shopping, according to recent surveys. For example, a third of recent home buyers ages 18 to 36 say their decision to purchase was based on the desire for a larger property with a yard for their dog, according to a survey by Harris Poll conducted for SunTrust Mortgage. Further, 33 percent of 412 young adults surveyed listed their pet as their top homebuying motivation.

So what kinds of home preferences do pets have? Daniel Bortz, a real estate pro in the Washington, D.C., area, wrote an article for realtor.com® on the traits in a home that pets really don’t like, including:

Hardwood floors

Dogs often have a tough time walking on hardwood floors. Wailani Sung, a veterinary behaviorist and owner of All Creates Behavior Counseling in Kirkland, Wash., recommends placing non-skid area rugs on the ground to make floors less slippery and easier to walk on for pets. Or, consider buying nonslip rubber rings that can slide onto a dog’s toenails to improve traction (one company that makes these is called ToeGrips).

Scented cleaning products

Strong odors can be a nuisance to pets’ noses. “Even a mild-scented cleaner can be a problem, since [odors] smell stronger to dogs than they do to us,” says Jenna Stregowski, a registered veterinary technician. Instead, choose odorless cleaners.

Chain-link fences

These can be problematic for dogs. They can see through chain-link fences, but they’ll go crazy when they can’t chase every stray cat or squirrel that scampers by. Mikkel Becker, an animal trainer at FearFreePets.com, recommends opting for a fence with solid panels that block the dog’s line of sight, or buy wooden boards or vinyl panels to cover up gaps in an existing chain-link fence.

Dark spaces

Cats and dogs crave vitamin D from sunlight. Don’t keep pets in a basement. Open blinds and let them stretch out in the sun.

View more pets’ pet peeves about a home at realtor.com®.

Source: “8 Things Pets Secretly Hate About Your Home,” realtor.com® (Nov. 10, 2017)

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