"Thank you for finding me my new home...I know it was tough with my Golden Retriever, Pomeranian and 2 cats!" - JWW

Many of you have pets, or have friends with pets. Whether you love or hate them....they are in our everyday lives and can make a significant difference in where you can move...depending on size, temperament and breed! Many coops and condominiums in the area you are looking to buy or lease all have different policies and it can be a big feat, especially if you have a large dog, more than 1 dog or an aggressive breed.

Recently we purchased a puppy, and I made sure she was under the acceptable board guidelines...and since I'm on the board, I better follow the rules, right? One of the biggest and important questions I ask individuals when buying or leasing is, do you have any pets? IF yes, what kind and how many? Are they fixed? Are they well behaved/trained enough to pass a board meeting?

One of the biggest bits of advice I give people while buying besides not quitting their job, is don't get another pet- this can limit your search tremendously....and possibly create a board turndown- because that new or additional pooch or kitty may be non-qualified. Usually seasoned pet owners know in small spaces, there are limitations but a new pet owner could be in for a very big surprise!

As an example, I had particular clients who could only put 10% down- therefore a condo was most suited. In addition, they had 2 large dogs (over 75 lbs). I ran a building search and showed them how many buildings out of ALL the buildings in THE DESIRED AREA fit their criteria- and there weren't too many so then we discussed price. They were blown away that out of the HUNDREDS of buildings, there were so few allowing big dogs! Usually when people have pets we target the specific buildings as a priority and then the price and size. Many people will search on NYTimes.com, though the information isn't clear on if it really fits your needs except that it looks good. A GREAT agent will know this and save you a lot of time and headaches! There's no reason to see a unit in a building that doesn't allow large dogs - if you have large dogs right?

First off, let's start with the WHY- Coops and condo's are usually multi level, multi unit buildings. They are actually a community within a community....and we all know everyone has different ideas of acceptable ways of living.

While a well trained dog can be more pleasant than an unruly neighbor, many people fear the following:

* Noise

* "Accidents" in public areas

* Allergies

* Jumping up

* Overcrowding common areas

* Scaring small Children

* Biting

One of the biggest complaints from other unit owners is smells and excessive barking- torture for someone who works at home. Another big one is overcrowding- in the elevators and common areas. Many buildings instruct pet owners to take them out in the freight elevator to avoid crowding- especially in high traffic hours. Accidents can be very costly to repair or maintain in a building. I've seen many buildings have cameras and fine the individual in order not to affect the entire buildings costs. Some pups although meaning to b e friendly may jump on small children or nip...which is a lot more painful to the tender skin of a child-and a lot more fearful. Many individuals suffer from mild to intense allergies- even to hypoallergenic cats and dogs, because the saliva and dander isn't hypoallergenic- so a simple pat on the head to one could be almost deadly to another unfortunately.

Cats can be unruly if they're in heat, or spray if not fixed or kept well. It may not seem like a big deal until it's you who suffer the consequences. Earlier in my career I'll never forget a unit which had 4 cats...and the owner let them hang out in the hallways....how do you think it smelled? What do you think the buyers of the neighboring apartment for sale thought? It sounds mean until you hear some real life stories...and it's a shame because the pets tend not to be the issue. Proper pet care- good training, day care and following the house rules can make a building with many furry friends a welcome environment.

Want to live at peace? Ask a lot of questions- sit in the lobby in evening hours and talk to residents...its not just about allowing pets- its how people accept the pets-especially in neighboring units.