Creating built-in pet homes without affecting value

Built-in pet homes that have been carved into a wall within the home have become a popular addition to many homes within America.

Whether this trend will grow any traction in South Africa remains to be seen.

“The difference is that most South African homes are built with bricks and cement instead of with wooden frames and dry walling.

“This makes it trickier to carve out a space within a wall to make a built-in micro home for our pets,” said Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Those who do attempt to carve out wall space for their pets might find that it affects the resale value of their home.

“Buyers without pets are unlikely to see any value in having a hole carved into the wall,” Goslett said.

That being said, there are other ways to make a dedicated spot in the home for the household pet without affecting the resale value of the property.

“Consider renovations that are easily removed if the buyers do not own pets or do not like the addition,” Goslett said.

RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares some top spots within the home that could make the ideal built-in space for the household pet:

Underneath the staircase

This is often the most underutilised space within any home because of its awkward size and shape. The most practical way to utilise this space is to create some clever built-in storage solutions – and, for those who own pets, it is simple enough to remove a drawer or two to create a cosy nook for them to sleep in.

Below bay windows

Those with bay windows, which tend to be found within older homes, can utilise the semi-hexagonal space (which can otherwise be tricky to place furniture in) to create a built-in unit pet bed that could easily be transformed into storage if they later decide to sell.

Unused cabinet space

There can sometimes be kitchen cabinets or wardrobe space that is underutilised, like the corner of a kitchen island or the bottom of a hanging wardrobe.

These spots can often be opened up or remodelled to create a tidy little spot to keep a pet bed.

“There are many ways to accommodate man’s best friend without affecting the resale value of a home.

“The key is to keep any project easy enough to remove to make sure that the house has the broadest possible appeal when the owner eventually decides to sell,” Goslett said.