Real estate: no, it’s not women who influence purchases…

We are accustomed to hearing real estate agents say that, in a couple, it is the women who choose the accommodation. It actually seems that the decision-maker is another member of the family…

“Ah, if Madame likes the apartment, the game is over, Monsieur!” Perhaps you have already heard this jokereal estate agentthe cliché that, in the context of a real estate purchase by a couple, it is generally the woman who decides. A study published by SeLoger, this Monday, September 30, challenges this idea: it would be neither the man nor the woman nor the children, but the dog which would influence the choice of accommodation! According to a survey of 4,100 dog owners by the real estate listings site and pet food manufacturer Ultra Premium Direct, nearly three in ten people systematically choose their accommodation based on the needs of their pet. Moreover, 16% of respondents admit to having already moved to provide more suitable accommodation for their dog. And 6% of those questioned went so far as to move before adopting a dog, in order to offer it suitable accommodation upon its arrival.

“The position of pets, particularly dogs, has evolved considerably in recent years. A social phenomenon, called “pet-parenting”, emerged a few years ago around the world, which wants animals to now be considered full members of the family, like children. This trend is even reflected in the real estate choices of “dog parents“, ready to make many concessions to ensure the well-being of their animals”explains SeLoger.

An extra room for dog owners

For dog owners, it is the criterion of surface area that takes precedence in the quest for ideal accommodation. While the average surface area of ​​a property is 81 square meters in France, it rises to 107 square meters among dog owners. Either 26 additional square meters all the same! This observation applies to each region of France, as shown in the infographic below.

It must be said that 17% of respondents dedicate an entire room to their pet… Without going that far, eight out of ten dog owners consider it essential to have a garden. And almost one in two say they are ready to do work, such as installing a fence and a doghouse, so that Médor can play there in complete peace of mind. In the absence of a garden, more than half (57%) of dog owners living in the city consider it essential to live near a green space or a dog park, where Ulysses can stretch his legs and meet his peers.

“Last but not least”, almost a third of those surveyed inquire about the acceptance of dogs by neighbors before setting their sights on accommodation. The grandmother who resists the slightest bark or the mother who backs up in the elevator with her stroller, murmuring “Are you sure he’s nice?”it is the certainty of future neighborhood problems… More than one dog owner in two says they are ready to move to the countryside to offer a better living environment for their dog. No grumpy neighbors nearby.