Buying investment home with pets

[Patrick H.]

Is there any issues with investing in a home that had pets living in it?

I would prefer not to invest in a home that had pets living in it (dogs or cats), but do future renters or future buyers really care?

I don't know how often a buyer or renter will ask whether a house had pets or not. Of course there is additional cost of replacing the carpet and pad.

[Mitch Kronowit]

I'll second what Corey said.

Who cares IF there were pets on that property in the past? If you repaint the walls, replace/deep clean the carpets, and clean up the yard, who's going to know there were ever pets there?

The only reason I see prospective tenants asking about pets is:

1. They can still smell the pet.
2. They are allergic to animals and are concerned renting your property may pose a health hazard for them.
3. They would like to bring their OWN pet to live with them.

If you wipe out all traces of pet evidence and your prospective tenants still object, believe me, you DON'T WANT THEM! They're the type that are liable to complain about every little thing in the future.