In a slower market finding one’s niche in selling real estate is more and more important. One of the ways to align with customers needs is to find common interests. There are many pet owners looking to buy or rent and would look to use the services of real estate agents who specialize in finding properties that are pet friendly.
While the niche marketing for pets is important anywhere, finding pet friendly properties in cities is more important than in the suburbs. A reputation for knowing where the pet friendly properties in a city could be the way to grow your business in a slow market.
Indeed, “pet friendly” is becoming something of a buzzword in real estate. Developers tout new buildings that not only welcome animal companions but also cater to them. The Thrush Cos., for example, promotes its 740 Fulton condo building’s affiliation with a dog-walking and pet-sitting “concierge” service.
And the trend is carrying over to rental apartments, which are increasingly less likely to hang out a “No pets allowed” sign.
“It is an amazing niche market,” said Rhona Sutter, a Naples, Fla., real estate agent who got the idea for the Pet Realty Network when she came across statistics on pet ownership.
“Last year, in the United States, 10.7 million people moved with their pets,” Sutter said, citing data from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. An animal lover who formerly ran an online pet-supply business, she founded PetRealtyNetwork.com to connect pet lovers with like-minded agents. viachicagotribune.com.
And you want further proof that being pet friendly is the way to go, look no further than our good friend Greg at Bloodhound Realty. Now that is pet friendly.
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Thanks for the mention Tom, and for recognizing that our care of pets is sincere… not just a gimmick. Greg and I were at StarPower's Annual Conference last week, and I can't tell you how many times people commented, upon seeing my business card (the glamour shot on which is a photo of our Bloodhound, Odysseus), "Ahhh, you already knew about the Three T's." That's a reference to something that was mentioned during one of the general sessions. Basically, an ad rep said that any ad with the Three T's was sure to be a success: Tots, Ta-tas (paraphrasing), or Terriors (representing dogs of any sort).
Of course that annoyed me… when we look out for animals — ours, our clients, or any other we know of in need — it has nothing to do with gimmick. In fact, you've inspired me to write some more on this matter.
Thanks again.
Interesting post. I really enjoy your writing. By the way, I run a Real Estate Article Directory and if you have some articles for distribution, you are very welcome to post them.
Cheers,
Alex
Tom – Thank you for mentioning The Pet Realty Network and we were delighted about the article in The Chicago Tribune that has already been syndicated to over 25 newspapers.
You are absolutely correct in saying that finding pet friendly housing is so important as that is a major reason dogs are relinquished to shelters due to residential pet restrictions or when moving.
We started The Lucky Day campaign to help homeless pets across the United States after working with our local shelter, the Humane Society of Naples. Before we knew it other animal shelters from Miami to Atlanta to Oregon have joined us as well as the New Leash on Life in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Thanks for helping spread the word.
Great post! I love that you are taking the time to write about pet care. This is something near and dear to my heart. Take care.
As a therapist in Spokane WA, I can appreciate this idea of pushing more pet friendly realestate. I have worked with client's in the past that needed homes to live with their animals as a form of therapy. However, finding affordable housing, and pet friendly houseing has been a real challange.
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