Living between homes in multiple states – for work, because you’re a seasonal resident, or whatever other reason – can take some doing. Add a pet to the mix and you’ve got yourself a bit of a juggling act. Pets have special needs and often need extra attention before, during, and after travel.
Today, Quality Title Group offers some advice on how you better manage multi-state living as a pet owner.
Create a pre-move checklist
“Dual” residents – people who live in two homes – find that following a to-do list keeps them organized and makes the move easier to pull off. Here are some examples of tasks to include on the list:
- Services: Suspending or postponing utilities, subscriptions, cleaning crew calls, and more.
- Mail forwarding: Having mail held back or forwarded to a new location.
- Thermostat: Turning off the temperature or putting it on the lowest setting.
- Medical: Picking up updated medical records and putting them in a file.
- Informing the neighbors: Having neighbors check in on the house from time to time.
- Packing: Deciding what to take with you, what to leave behind, and what to put in temporary storage.
Follow pet-travel best practices
Experts recommend you follow some best practices to keep your pet in good health when you move:
- Before moving: Visit the vet, pack a bag with overnight supplies, set a packing schedule, and keep your pet to their usual routine. Reader’s Digest provides a good example routine.
- During the move: Travelling by car is more comfortable, typically, for pets and allows you to let them out for walks or relieve themselves. Air travel is also an option – fly with a carrier with a good track record for the lowest pet-related accidents.
- Afterward: Set up a comfortable space for your pet, put away hazardous items, reintroduce their routine, and give them time to settle in.
Watch out for signs of stress or anxiety in your pet
Dogs, cats, and other pets can develop anxiety when moving to unfamiliar environments. Many pet owners choose to tranquilize or sedate their pets to prevent this – which is not a good idea. It can cause health risks like heart disease. Instead, you can reassure them by talking to them or petting them. Also, you can try to give them CBD oil – it’s a natural remedy that will make them calmer. A special infrared dog bed can also help.
Keep pet supplies on hand at both homes
Keeping pet supplies at both homes is convenient – it will reduce your packing burden and make it easier to get your pet to settle in. Some examples are pet food, cat trees, crates, leashes, pet beds, medication, comfortable and humane muzzles, and more. If buying new products, look at customer ratings for trustworthiness and ask your veterinarian for recommendations. Also, look at reviews written by animal pros on pet-related websites.
Consider home upkeep and maintenance
You will need to think about how to maintain both your homes. Some specifics to look into are repair, maintenance, payments, taxes, insurance, food (for you and your family), and security. Installing a smart security system can be worthwhile – it deters thieves and informs you of issues like carbon monoxide build-up.
Keep abreast of the average costs of living in each city
Traveling, maintaining two homes, and taking care of a pet are all expensive. You should be looking to save money wherever possible. When you have access to two states, an excellent way to save money is to make purchases in the cheaper one. This applies to everything from insurance and healthcare to clothing and other living essentials. This also applies to pet-related purchases: For instance, you can get pet insurance in the cheaper state or stock up on non-perishables and then deep freeze them for later.
Keeping tabs on the average cost of living in different cities is also essential to staying in charge of your finances:
- Temporary self-storage in LA: Temporary self-storage is a convenient place to put some non-essentials in. Finding L.A. self-storage is easy – you can book 5’ x 5’ units online for as little as $124.
- Utilities in Alabama: Utilities cost an average of $100 in Alabama.
- Pet care in New York: It costs anywhere from $1,751 to $4,475 per year to have a dog in New York City.
- Food in California: The average cost of food in California is between $233 and $266 in California.
- Rent in Florida: The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Florida is $835.
Conclusion
Living between two homes can take a lot of getting used to – for both you and your pet. It does get easier with time. Make your and your pet’s well-being a priority. Making use of professional services – from movers to temporary storage – can make it all easier to manage too.
Quality Title Group is a team of experienced and qualified business professionals committed to making your business our business! Call 901-249-4787.
