The Reality of Pets and Your Vacation Rental

[Collin Hays]

Did you know that 53 percent of vacationers are traveling with their dog or cat, yet only an estimated 15 percent of vacation rentals "allow" pets? 

That means that pets are likely staying at your rental, regardless of whether or not you allow them.  With that reality, we are faced with the "If you can't beat them, join them" question.  Despite all of the disclaimers, cameras, and fines, pets are staying at our properties.  

It is worth consideration in making your property pet friendly, so that you can capitalize on the reality of pets and charge extra for them, as well as possibly make your home more marketable on the various hosting platforms.  Of course, that means that your property will need to be prepared properly for this, which means "no carpet". 

We are finding that our "pet friendly" properties are renting more, and that likely offsets any extra repairs & maintenance throughout the year for pet-related issues.

[Jesse Turner]

Quote from @Andrew Steffens:

I always implore my clients to be pet friendly.  I had previously read something like 48% of people travel with their pets, and I do believe it based on the amount of pet fees we collect.  The pet fees in my experience do outweigh the damages we have encountered which have always been slight.  That is not even accounting for the increase in occupancy as well.

 Coming from long-term rentals, I was advised by a friend/realtor/investor/pm to charge a pet fee rather than banning pets. Partly, this was due to the ease with which tenants can get certificates that legally bind many property owners to allow certain types of pets. The fees I charged as a LTR landlord more than made up for additional cleaning expenses. For short-term rentals, the same would likely apply, assuming you offer what others don't AND you have a reliable way of screening for animals that cause excess trouble/mess OR pet owners who are not responsible.