Homes in the Indianapolis real estate market are no stranger to animals, and one key problem that buyers on the housing market run into is the presence of pets. While pets are a wonderful addition to a home, they are animals, and as such will behave like animals. This can spell problems for your furniture, carpets and walls when trying to sell your home. If you are looking at properties in the Indianapolis area, know that there are plenty that are former pet homes, and there are some factors to consider before signing the dotted line.



First off, it doesn't matter how neat and tidy the house you are looking at is; if you are shopping Indianapolis real estate that had a pet living in it, rest assured that the pet peed somewhere in the house. Maybe in a closet, maybe in a hallway, but it peed. Now consider how you would feel if you knew that a person had peed on your carpets; you would be repulsed and disgusted, yet when an animal, whose diet is considerably worse than our own does this act, we tend to get out the shampooer and shrug it off. Pet stains are a major consideration when looking at the floors of your home.

Cat owners, consider this. Cats are especially territorial, and if they smell the presence of another animal they will do all they can to mark the area. Boy cats will especially go out of their way to establish the area as theirs, and will mark it if they can. If they are fixed, you still run the risk of them urinating to cover the other animals scent. The smell of cat urine should be a definite red light when shopping for homes on the Indianapolis real estate market.

Now, consider the pet hair that is left behind. While you might get the carpets cleaned or even removed, this does not remove the pet hair that has accrued in closets, shelves and most notable, the vents of your home. You will need to go through your Indianapolis real estate and thoroughly have your vent systems cleaned as well as your home fumigated to completely remove any pet dander. If you have children, this can be a major concern due to allergies.

Now consider the state of the yard. Indianapolis real estate is ripe with animals, and animals tend to make a mess of a yard if left unchecked. Make sure that the prior owners haven't let their pets destroy a section of yard, and if they have, ask that it be taken care of before the home is sold. You shouldn't have to clean up after their pets.

Finally, look at the state of the walls. Sometimes dogs will go out of their way to mark territory, and one way of doing this is marking high surfaces like walls. Don't let yourself be talked into a home covered in dog urine that was blocked by a simple coat of paint; this doesn't remove the bacteria or fumes that come with the marking, and it will cause problems later on.

When choosing a home on the Indianapolis real estate market, you have hundreds of options. Just like anywhere else, some will be good and some will be nightmares, but if you know what to look for, the problem of pets doesn't have to be yours.