Should FiFi Come With You to Look at Houses?

I am very pro-doggy!  We had dogs while I was growing up, but this one pictured here was the first pup I was responsible for.  This is Maverick the pug pictured here.  We were buds - we went everywhere!  

Now, that's the case even more so for people - taking dogs into retail stores, grocery stores and restaurants.  We know, when you're about to go anywhere, if your dog looks at you like this - 

it might be pretty hard to leave them at home!  So what's appropriate when you've got an appointment to look at a house or condo?

• Most importantly - communication is key.  If you live in the same local area as the properties you are visiting, a dog should only be accompanying you if it is a registered service dog.  Tell your agent in advance you'll be bringing a service dog. While it is extremely rare for anyone to ask for any type of documentation, my motto is "minimize the surprise," so it's a good idea to have something with you to validate the canine's role as a service dog.  
• If you are visiting from out of town and bringing your dog, get your information before the trip:
  • While the hotel/condo may allow dogs, is the dog allowed to stay in the room while you're not there?
  • Must the dog be crated in the room just in case housekeeping comes in while you're gone?
  • Are there any doggie day care facilities near your hotel?
  • Could your agent assist you in finding a reliable pet sitter? (Celia's answer: Yes!)
• For the most part, new construction sales offices/model homes are fine with having dogs come inside, but you should be able to pick them up and hold them as you walk through the home.  If your agent knows you've run into a jam and you have to bring your dog to look at homes, they can call the community sales rep in advance to make them aware so the presence of the dog is not a surprise (thankfully, most are happy to see a doggy, but you can't always assume that's the case, especially if the model home is crowded).
  • It's common to be shown additional homes under varying stages of construction - USE CAUTION!  There could be nails and other sharp construction materials that could injure your pup's paws! It's a good idea for your dog to remain in the air conditioned car when you're walking these homes.
• So here's the part where I have to give some tough love . . . it's important to make every effort to refrain from bringing your pet into a resale property of any kind.  Unless we have asked in advance or the listing states clearly it is okay to bring your pet with you, you cannot assume it is okay (even if it appears the home is vacant!).  There could already be a pet in the home at the time of the showing (even though the humans are gone), there could be someone who lives in the home who has serious allergies, or your little FiFi may be a bit nervous or pick up a scent and decide it's time to have an accident.  I know someone who listed their home and someone came in with their agent and brought in a dog.  (She could see this from the cameras they had in the home).  She was so upset the prospective Buyers were letting their dog walk through her home, she called her neighbors to walk over to her house to tell them to get out!!  DRAMA!!  Who wants that??  No one.  How sad -- they may have loved her house, but after that, you can bet they weren't going to put in an offer, right?  It's always good to remember we (agent included!) are in essence strangers walking into someone else's house and we must treat it like we would want our home treated. 

As a Buyer's Agent, I put a lot of planning into the showings we do - I want them to be a good experience for you so you feel confident and excited about the decision you're making . . especially for FiFi!

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