If you are like most renters, you look ahead to the day when you will get your security deposit back. Having a pet while renting a home may bring about a drop in your chances of obtaining a full refund. Even though your Weeki Wachee property manager could just allow pets, it’s up to you to make sure your pet doesn’t damage the property. If you don’t do things ahead of time to make sure that they are properly cared for and well-behaved, you could end up losing your deposit or even paying more for any damage caused by your pet. The good news is that as a pet owner and a renter, there is a lot you can do to minimize the impact your pet will have on your rental property.
Keep Your Pet Clean and Healthy
One of the effective methods to protect your pet and your Weeki Wachee rental home is to guarantee that your pet is clean and healthy. Consistently bathing and grooming your pet can help keep them comfortable and reduce nasty odors that can collect on furniture, walls, and carpeting. You must likewise take fitting steps to keep your pet free of fleas or other parasites, which can infest a home and harm your pet’s health. Preventing fleas is much faster and easier than getting rid of them later, so it is worth the effort to be proactive about it.
Train and Supervise Your Pet
Another very crucial to protect your rental home from unnecessary damage is to train and supervise your pet properly. Pets like cats and dogs need to be trained to use a litter box or a yard to eliminate waste. If such training does not take place, pets can urinate or worse inside the rental home, causing a lot of damage to walls, floors, and even fixtures. Once carpeting has been urinated on, it is very hard to completely clean again. As an alternative, make sure that you provide your pet with an appropriate place to do their business.
If accidents happen, enzyme products should be used to completely remove the smell of pet urine and discourage your pet from returning to that same spot. Undesirable urination, chewing, and other behaviors result from leaving a pet home alone for hours or even days at a time. Even pets left in the yard all day will dig holes, chew up sprinkler lines and plants, and do other kinds of destruction. There are a lot of ways to keep your pet and your property safe while you are gone, from having someone check on them during the day to crate training them (for dogs). As a tenant, it is important to supervise your pet or possibly lose your security deposit once you have moved out.
Clean Up After Your Pet (the Right Way)
Ultimately, to minimize your pet’s presence in your rental home, cleaning up after them regularly (and immediately) is important. Pet waste should be, without delay, correctly disposed of, and pet beds, kennels, cages, or other areas should be scrubbed frequently. Pets living in filthy environments can contract a broad spectrum of diseases, many of which can pass to humans. Messy pets, yards, and homes also tend to appeal to insects and unwanted pests, which pose further health risks and can cause more damage to the property.
When you move out, it’s even more important to do a deep-clean the property and evaluate any destruction your pet may have caused. If you can make small repairs yourself, that can help a lot. For example, fill in any holes dug in the yard, clean up pet waste outside and inside, and properly wipe down all walls, baseboards, floors, and other spots the pet had access to. If your pet caused damage you can’t fix, don’t try to hide it! It’s best to document the property’s condition and report it to your landlord if a dispute arises.
Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but it doesn’t need to interfere with getting your security deposit back. Taking a few proactive steps ensures that you, your pet, and your home are clean and properly cared for.
Are you looking for your next Weeki Wachee rental home? Check out our available rentals or call us at 727-279-7779 for more information.
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