If you love tourism, small talk, and/or fantastic restaurants for any occasion, you are going to LOVE living in Charleston, South Carolina. At CREC, we know moving can be intimidating and stressful, especially for your pets who aren’t able to understand it. Pets are good at picking up on their owner’s stress level, so it’s important to remain calm and positive during this exciting transition.  

 

Packing Up Your Home

Packing up your house with pets presents several new challenges, but with planning and creativity you can overcome this! Try buying a treat puzzle or Kong (depending on your pet type) for a high reward game that’ll keep them distracted and entertained. Add an extra element to this game by hiding the toy so that they can go hunting for it! We know that packing takes quite some time, so don’t forget to take a couple breaks throughout the day to focus on your pet. This will help the both of you recharge! 

 

Planning Your Trip

Prepare your pets by gradually acclimating them to their crates. Putting your pet into the crate only when you are upset with them will lead them to have a negative association with being crated. Create a positive association with the crate with treats and playtime. It’s also a good idea to allow your dog or cat to get familiar with traveling by taking them on short trips in your vehicle. Before your big moving day, it’s a good idea to map out a route to Charleston where you can find dog parks or rest stops along the way to accommodate the entire family. 

 

Pet-Proofing Your New Home

While we can’t stop your pet from being curious, we can prevent them from getting into any trouble! Making sure your new Charleston home is a safe environment for your furry loved ones is critical to preventing additional moving stress. We’ve outlined some tips below: 

 

Kitchen/Bathrooms

  • Place medications, cleaners, and laundry supplies on higher shelves
  • Block any small spaces behind washer/dryer units
  • Keep trash cans out of sight or make sure they’re covered
  • Keep the toilet lid closed
  • Keep foods out of reach

 

Living Room/Bedroom

  • Secure dangling wires from lamps, chargers, or televisions 
  • Store shoes, bags, and house plants off the floor 
  • Invest in fashionable and washable area rugs 

 

Settling Into Your New Home

This is now your pet’s home too, so be sure to provide them with their own special space! Set up their bed, crate, litter box, etc., so that they can familiarize themselves with their new home. Since we’ve pet-proofed their home, let them explore the environment. It’s important to make time for them despite how hectic moving might feel, so try to stick to old playtime, walking, and sleeping routines. 

 

At CREC, we focus on helping you plan for these big changes, so you can feel at home as soon as possible. The sooner you start planning, the more quality time you’ll have to explore your new Charleston neighborhood with your furry friend!

 

If interested in viewing a Lowcountry property, reach out to us today at (843) 574-9100 or email us at [email protected].