Renting with Pets: An Interview with the Founder of Unmentionable Pets

Kim Concepcion is the Founder of Unmentionable Pets, a service that helps landlords and prospective tenants to resolve pet-related issues.

What does Unmentionable Pets do, and what is the meaning of your name?

 Unmentionable Pets shares information, resources, and personal stories focusing on housing issues faced by pet owners. My background in Property Management and Residential Real Estate gives me unique insight into what landlords want and need, and the goal of Unmentionable Pets is to create win-wins within the housing space.

The name comes from my own experiences. Often, renters do not want to “mention” that they have 3 cats, or a large dog, or even a reptile to potential landlords. This can later cause more issues for both parties. I thought the name would encompass many different situations in pet ownership (not just certain breeds or multiples), so we ran with it. We help pet owners, landlords, and the public in general with resources and options for facing a pet housing situation.

How did you come up with the idea for this service?

As a Realtor, over the last 10 years, the pattern would happen over and over, and over again. I would get a call, the person on the other end would be looking for a rental, and the first question they would ask me was: “Do you know if the landlord will take pet XYZ?” 

It would be a game of phone tag or outright no options to try and help place them in a rental. Many of them would just not say anything and call another agent pretending they did not have pets. I did not want that to be the reality. I created Unmentionable Pets to help share information with pet owners, and share resources with landlords about risk/reward options. We focus on how to get to a middle ground and support responsible pet ownership while paying attention to the landlord’s ROI (Return On Investment) and risk assessment from a business perspective.

My goal is also to help pet owners become homeowners and future landlords! With good fiscal choices, this helps to create more win-wins in the marketplace!

Have you ever had trouble finding pet-friendly housing? If so, how was the situation resolved?

Yes, I personally have had issues finding a home!

My husband is in the military, and most base housing has a list of banned dogs. However, my husband has wanted a pitbull-type dog since the day I met him. I always said no — not because of the dogs, but because we had to move a lot, and it was already hard to find something suitable for our family.

I didn’t want the added stress of having a pet that would be difficult to fit in that equation. So, our solution was that we knew we had to buy a home. From then on, we would be homeowners so that we did not have to let a landlord decide if the risk was worth it. That was 2009, and we have owned a home since then!

Do you have advice for property managers who are "on the fence" about no-pets (or breed restrictive) policies?

In my mind, it comes down to a few principles: communication, education, and willingness to serve responsible pet owners. 

The first is communication: Be willing to talk about why you would or would not like pet "XYZ" in your unit. Is there something you do not know? Is there more history or a compensation that can make it a win-win? Ask the questions and be willing to have a conversation.

No-pet policies, as well as weight and breed restrictions, are a major reason why pets are surrendered to shelters.

Real-life people and people on paper can be quite different: they might be as good as their resumé, or not. And many landlords are just following their routine – but they forget about the most important thing in the rental market: occupancy.

There is a huge cost to turn a unit year after year. If someone discloses a pet, put things in place to protect your investment. Good communication allows you to make these decisions, so let potential tenants be open and explanatory about their habits, plans, and lifestyle.

Education: Let’s be real! Pets represent a risk. There are good and bad pet parents out there, and their attitude can be decisive. But also, renting a home is always a risk! There are good and bad tenants, pet owners or not!

Know your options. Assess the risk/reward in each situation. What can be done to limit risk and protect your property? LOTS – over the last 3 years alone, more insurance carriers have put out low-cost options.

I have found, in my experience, that the owners who do not disclose their pets tend to cause the most financial damage to a property – physically and by not paying their rent on time. Good pet parents are really that: parents, taking care of their pets. They are grateful for a stable place to call home. Make sure this is the renter you are getting. Check references, check employment, do an internet search! Invest upfront to gather information so that you can make the decision that is most profitable in the long run.

You can protect your investment as well as offer a pet family a place to live. The more you encourage and fact-check potential renters, the more they are prepared and ready if they need to rent again.

Willingness: Like-energy people tend to find each other. I often see people who own pets themselves become great landlords to other pet owners. This keeps pets with their families and out of rescues/shelters. Is that not the goal, to keep pets with the families that love them?

Maybe this willingness to help others is how I was raised, but the other side of me says to rental communities and landlords: THIS CAN BE VERY PROFITABLE! More and more people are getting pets instead of growing their families. Therefore, they're typically taking proper care of their animals and have a stable income to make things right if something were to happen! See that as an opportunity to grow your real estate portfolio. 

Also, the innovators and successful people of most industries follow a plan, assess risk, but also break into new ground. You can stay status quo, but others will take advantage of this market and grow much faster.

Ask yourself:

-What are your goals?

-What is your timeline?

-What is the property rental history?

Everyone has a risk tolerance – find yours and see if there are win-wins to be had!  

What tips would you offer to people who are looking for pet-friendly rental housing?

The first one is to please be a good pet parent. Your actions will impact the landlord and indirectly hurt or help the next tenant! Everything is connected and you do make a difference. 

Do your own due diligence. Local laws, optional insurance – you must protect the landlord. Ask your vet, trainer, or pet-sitter for a formal recommendation. Be honest and upfront with as much detail as you can provide the landlord. The more information you give them, the better a decision they can make. 

Respect if they are not interested. It is their investment, and the fact is, right now, landlords have a lot of options. So, if it is a no, thank them and move on.   

Lastly, ask your network. Do you know anyone with pets like yours? Know any trusted agents to help? You might be surprised, if you just ask a few people, what options might be out there that you have not thought about. Or, of course, contact us and we'll be happy to help!

What is your service area, and how can people get more information? For those outside of your service area, do you have online resources?

Our team has the most knowledge of Hampton Roads Area of Virginia –think the towns of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake. Also, San Diego County in California, and Lake County in Illinois.

Luckily, from my husband's time in the Navy, we know people who can help all over the country; thus why I can say coast-to-coast and really mean it! We are building our network slowly and would love referrals in any area for great agents, landlords, insurance people, etc., who share our passion for keeping pets and families together!

Our team has done a great job on our website, www.unmentionablepets.com, and you'll find us on other social media outlets as @unmentionablepets. So, make sure you take a look and give us a follow!

Is there anything else you'd like to say that our questions didn't cover?

The Unmentionable Pets community is focused on helping people, helping pets, and, in general, finding solutions. We are a place of education where questions are encouraged! There is always an answer – maybe not one you like, or maybe a tiny sacrifice, but there are always options! It's important to remember that we, the pet parents, are the ones who need to ask the questions!

I make it my personal mission to ensure our people are taken care of. Agents and Real Estate professionals can have a bad day, and that is something I want to know about so that I can have an opportunity to help or advocate for people with Unmentionable Pets. However, we are also a place of grace… let’s talk about it! Not every client goes with every agent, and vice versa! The goal is to find that balance on both sides and create the WIN-WINS!

The Imperfect, Mostly-Happy Life of Some Dogs

Many years ago, I landed a job as a bookkeeper at a small company that sold tractor parts. I was a new mother at the time, and I’d only been out of college for a few years. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so the employment agency placed me in this unlikely position. I knew nothing about tractors — much less about the parts that make them function. Frankly, I didn’t know much about bookkeeping either.

At first, I felt out of place in this male-dominated, machine-centered environment. The modular, no-frills office was set on land that was littered with metal parts and enclosed by a chain-link fence. It was nothing like the pretty, polished offices I had worked in before, and I didn’t think I would like it there. Then I met the company watchdog.

Sammy was a slightly overweight German shepherd mix who lived on the property. Although he had shelter and basic care, I viewed him as a dog without a home, and I felt sorry for him. I thought about my own dogs, lounging on the couch with the family every night. Didn’t every dog deserve that kind of life?

Over time, I came to realize that my preconceptions were flawed. The tractor parts shop turned out to be a nice place to work, with friendly coworkers and — although bookkeeping was not my calling — days spent in that office were not unpleasant. The same was true about Sammy. Yes, every dog DOES deserve a comfortable life with a loving family, but Sammy was far from homeless, lonely, or miserable. He had fresh food and water every day, and he was wildly popular with employees and customers. He seemed happy.

About 20 years later, I passed a man living on the sidewalk with his dog. The two of them were curled up together on a sleeping bag. There were empty food containers nearby, and a bowl of water. I left the area for a couple of hours, and when I returned, the man was being taken away by police and the dog was being put into an Animal Control vehicle. It was heartbreaking to see the man pounding desperately on the walls of the van, begging not to be separated from his dog. I don’t know what happened or why the police were called, but the scene made me think about how vulnerable those who don’t “fit the mold” can be.

These days, I travel often and try to keep an open mind about the different ways that people and pets live. I don’t automatically assume that it’s wrong for a pet to live primarily at a workplace, or that a person who is homeless does not deserve to have a pet. While I insist that every animal deserves care and comfort, I have realized that there are many paths to fulfilling those needs.

Pet-Friendly Homebuilding with Cottonwood Custom Builders

Cottonwood Custom Builders is a prominent general contractor based in Boulder, Colorado. They specialize in “green” custom homebuilding and remodeling, and pride themselves on the ability to bring any vision to life.

We interviewed Hannah Finch Phillips (Marketing Director) and Kimberly Neill (Project Manager & Estimator), and combined their comments below.

Marketing Director Hannah.
Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

Project Manager/Estimator Kimberly. Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

Does your team have pets? 

Founder Jeff with his dog, Karma. Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

Do we ever!  We’re a pet loving community.  

Most days at the office, we have our friendly and very enthusiastic greeters: Beatrix (cattle dog mix) and Apollo (Boston terrier).  Both are rescue dogs that belong to our Marketing Director, Hannah.  When we are really lucky, our founder Jeff Hindman brings Karma the Portuguese water dog to the office, too! Karma doesn’t visit as often, as both of her humans work at pet-friendly offices, so we have to share her! 

Outside of the office, our team members have many more dogs, cats, and other animal companions!

Have your experiences with pets affected the way you think about functionality in home design or construction?

Certainly! As pet owners, we know how central they are to families and how much joy we find in pampering them.  As pets age, they need different considerations. Our goal is to build homes that pets are safe and happy in, from youth to old age.  

We love getting to build “wish list” amenities for pets in our homes, such as dedicated washing stations and built-in litter boxes!  It keeps the home clean and beautiful, and makes it easier to care for our furry (or scaly) friends. 

What makes your company a pet-friendly builder?

Dog wash station in a mudroom. Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

As a fully custom builder and remodeler, our homes are never “one size fits all.”  That doesn’t just apply to the humans! On each project, we work with the homeowners to make sure that everyone is happy with the final result, including their pets. 

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed coming up with clever solutions to make the humans’ and pets’ lives better!

Have you worked with clients whose pets were a major consideration in the project?

We’re working on a fun one now!  Our client has a dog and two cats.  Since the dog and cats don’t get along, and the owners don’t want the cat’s litter box in their bedroom (can’t blame them there!), we needed to create a way for the cats to travel from the second floor bedroom to the first floor mudroom. The solution? A secret cat tunnel between the two rooms. We’re currently working with the homeowners and their cats to determine the best finishing materials to allow the cats to feel comfortable and travel easily. 

How can builders help their clients live more comfortably with pets? What custom home options facilitate pet-keeping tasks?

There are so many options, it’s hard to know where to start.  We like to think about ways to make the humans’ lives easier, such as pet washing stations, automatic pet doors, and ventilation systems to reduce litter box odors. For the pets, we think of ways to add more delight to their lives.  Cozy window seats, heated tile floors, and built-in, raised eating dishes seem to be some pet favorites!

Pets need mental stimulation and exercise; otherwise their boredom can lead to destructive behavior. Do you have suggestions for home options that can help keep dogs or cats busy?

By creating things like cat tunnels and automatic pet doors, we enable our pets more space to move around and explore.  Since they spend so much of their lives in our homes, it’s essential that they have room to roam & play! Even better, when pets have a designated area that is built to withstand their rougher play (claws, mud, etc), it gives them an area to “blow off steam.”  

Speaking of destructive behavior (e.g., dogs chewing furniture or cats pushing figurines off shelves), do you have advice for clients whose pets are home alone all day?

Creating a designated space that the pets stay in when left alone is great for pets and humans.  Pets enjoy having a routine and places where they feel safe.  By creating a designated area that meets their needs (access to the outdoors or a litter box, sunshine, food, etc), it sets the pet up for success (and protects those family heirlooms). 

Kitchen with a honed concrete, radiant heated floor. Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

What do you see as the major considerations for building a pet-friendly home?  

The major considerations center around creating what YOUR pet needs to thrive, while balancing that with your design goals for the home.  Any style home, from traditional to modern, can be pet-friendly with creative thinking!  And of course, throughout the whole process it’s important to choose eco-friendly building materials that promote healthy indoor air quality and protect the environment. 

What type of floors do you recommend for households with large dogs?  

For durability and modern style, we suggest honed concrete.  After finishing, it is quite gorgeous and if you pair it with radiant heat in the flooring, it's a pet's dream!  Luxury vinyl tile is another durable option.  We feel that the honed concrete is a greener option, although both products have their shortcomings. 

What are your favorite pet-friendly luxuries?

Jeff’s cat, Mikki, enjoying a radiant heated floor.
Photo copyright: Cottonwood Custom Builders.

If we could give a gift to every dog owner, it would be a washing station.  It’s less stressful for the dogs and saves your back from having to lean over a tub!  And for cat owners, a heated tile floor. Cats love to lounge on the warm, relaxing surface. 

Many people think of "pet-friendly" as a design consideration that only applies to rich or eccentric clients. What do you think? Are pet amenities out of reach for the average homeowner?  

Not at all! Of course, there’s a range.  Not everyone has the time, energy, or resources to do custom framing for creating cat tunnels.  But there are many simpler things that are achievable.  We love looking online for clever DIY ideas. If you’re just getting started, it’s a great place to start!

Many pets live in apartments, and landlords are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of allowing pets (larger prospective tenant pool, happier/more loyal tenants, etc.). What tips would you offer to property managers who want to accommodate pets? Are there options that benefit families with pets as well as children?

We are huge believers in the value of time outside.  When communities create shared resources, such as off-leash areas for dogs, it doesn’t just benefit the pets. It also benefits the humans and often helps them meet more of their neighbors. A true win-win! Patio space is also great, but it’s essential that the railings and decking are safe for children and pets. 

Do you have any specific examples of pet-related challenges that you would like to share?

It can be hard to predict how a pet will react to a new environment. Sometimes, you might build something you’re sure they’ll love and then discover that something about it makes them uneasy.  With that in mind, we encourage people to beta test ideas before fully building them out. 

We had a great “learning moment” on this a few years ago. We crafted a cat tunnel that led to a custom litter box enclosure. It was designed so that when the cat was visiting the litter box, a ventilation fan would automatically turn on. Turns out, the cat was terrified of the fan. In the end, we disconnected the fan and the cat thoroughly enjoys the luxury litter box in peace.

Animals are unique creatures; listen to them as you’re designing their spaces. 

Do you think that pet amenities will ever be offered as standard "options" for homebuyers?

Especially with how people are thinking about home differently during the pandemic, we say YES! Buyers want their homes to be an oasis from the outside world.  Anything that makes life more comfortable and easier is a huge value-add!

A few pandemic-era photos of the Cottonwood team and their furry co-workers. All photos property of Cottonwood Custom Builders.

Welcome to Pet-Friendly Planning!

Welcome to Pet-Friendly Planning – formerly Stay with Pets! Why the change? Our mission has evolved over the past 10 years, and we wanted our name to better reflect what we do.

Originally, our purpose was to help people find places where they could stay with their pets: hotels, apartments, shelters, etc. This continuous search for pet-friendly places has been eye-opening and sometimes disappointing. While many boutique inns and hotel/motel chains welcome dogs and cats, it remains difficult for people with pets (especially “bully-breed” dogs) to find housing. Seniors-only communities and emergency shelters present even bigger obstacles for people with companion animals. Sadly, these obstacles often cause people to abandon their pets, or to have their pets forcibly taken away from them. 

Our focus now is on helping to prevent these situations. In a world where hundreds of thousands of animals await rescue or adoption, we cannot afford to lose devoted caregivers. We are constantly on the lookout for news and ideas that can help people to live happily with their pets. If you would like to be part of our effort to make the world a more pet-friendly place, please follow our blog and social media pages. Thank you for visiting!

Copyright: Pet-Friendly Planning 2016