It's common knowledge that I have a love of gardening, but I also love my pets.  And sometimes, pets and gardening don't mix!  I read this great article this week that said 44% of all households have dogs, and that 78 million dogs are owned in the United States! That's a LOT of dogs!

It's easy to see why clients would like a "pet friendly home" among their top 10 things when looking for a home.  Let's look into what being a "pet friendly home" means.

Exactly what does your pet need?  For some that means a fenced in yard (which can be added after you buy the home) , and if you have bigger dogs, that could mean more space to run and chase those tennis balls!   If you have an outdoor dog, that could mean shade for them to relax in, or if you have my dog, big shade trees mean squirrels to chase!

But you also may want to consider the ground covers and plants in the yard.  Some plants are poisonous to animals, so you'll want to be sure to check that out before letting your puppies run.  If there are a lot of high weeds you need to clear out, you may want to consider the expense of a pest control company to come in and make sure the area is flea and tick free. Not only is that important for your pets, but you don't want your family members getting a tick on them either.

Make sure any new plants you do choose to put in the yard aren't poisonous.  Choosing native plants will insure they'll thrive in your yard.  Grass is pretty sturdy for dogs, and if you buy a yard that has a lot of dirt patches, you may want to resod, as that dirt becomes muddy paws every time it rains.  If you've had your dog for awhile, you're aware that dogs will wear paths where they repetitively run.  Once you're in the home, consider mulching areas by fences where they run, or place natural stone in areas where your dogs may kill the grass.

If you have to replace the grass, you may want to consider putting in terf, or plastic grass but don't do it!  Initially I thought it was a great idea, but pet experts say it's a horrible idea.  I had no idea that the grass gets too hot!  Too hot for even humans to walk on!  The article said that the plastic grass gets 37% hotter than asphalt! We all know how hot asphalt gets, I can't imagine asking my puppy to go outside and walk on something hotter than that!

My final point is, if you find that perfect home, and the backyard isn't pet friendly, it certainly can be made that way with a little elbow grease! And aren't those golden just so cute??

I just recently read an article published by MAR (the Maryland Association of Realtors) concerning Earnest Money. Earnest money is the deposit money you put down when you make an offer to purchase a home. This is important to the real estate transaction, so I thought I'd shed some light on the subject.  

According to Section 17-502 of the Brokers Act, the agent who received the earnest money is supposed to PROMPTLY turn over the EMD to her broker, and that broker is supposed to deposit that money into a trust account PROMPTLY. Some brokers have a 48 hour rule, while some interpret promptly to mean within 7 days or so.   

If clients ask to submit the offer, but to hold the check because it won't clear?  Many realtors have been disciplined because of this. Or, what happens if the EMD check is deposited in a timely manner and it comes back NSF?  The selling agent will disclose the information to the listing agent, then contact the broker and the client to see how the client can correct the problem.

The contract you sign when you make an offer should include who is holding your Earnest Money Deposit.  In some instances, the funds are being held by a title company instead of the broker.   Why would it matter if a broker vs a title company holds it?

Also, it must be said that a Title Company may have different rules as to when it can release the Earnest Monies if a transaction doesn't go through.  Title Companies are regulated by the Maryland Insurance Administration, and the Insurance Article of the Maryland Code does not specify how or when the Title Company may release the monies. Also, as a purchaser, it's important for you to know if deposited with a title company, if your money is going into a non interest or an interest bearing account.  If it is an interest bearing account, then to whom will that interest be paid?  You need to make sure that there's a written agreement signed by all parties, stating whatever terms everyone has agreed upon.  

And you just thought you were writing a check, didn't you?  Even though it seems complex, if you have a knowledgeable realtor who knows all these nuances, you shouldn't have a problem!  If you ever have any questions about any parts of the transaction, please give me a call or send me an email.  I'll be glad to help!