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How To Find Pet-Friendly Apartments in Carmel

May 22, 2020

Apartment with dog

If you have a dog or cat or are looking to bring one home in the near future, you are going to want to find a pet-friendly apartment in Carmel.  However, the term “pet-friendly” can actually be a bit fuzzy. Unfortunately, the term “pet-friendly” doesn’t necessarily have a concrete definition. Some pet-friendly communities may really give you the option to have a pet, but place limits on the breed or size. Some other Carmel apartment communities may even offer additional amenities for your dog like dedicated parks for your dog to play or provided waste disposal bags.

With such dramatic differences in pet-friendly apartments in Carmel, what criteria should you use to discover one that is perfect for you and your pet?

Start By Looking At The Property’s Pet Policy

Family walking with their dog on neighborhood trail

A community is only as friendly to pets as the pet policy. This policy outlines the rules and restrictions in regard to pet ownership. Some policies offer great flexibility and allow you to have any pet. Some have restrictions on the breeds of dogs. Others may limit the number of pets, size or weight. And some other pet policies ban dogs completely and only let you have cats or small animals such as hamsters.

Very few apartments place restrictions on the types of cat breeds allowed. It’s more common for a community to have a policy that has limits on just how many animals are permitted in one household. There also may be increased charges connected to having a pet, like increased monthly rent or costs for cleaning when you and your pet move out, or a non-refundable pet deposit you have to pay at move-in.

A pet policy with a lot of conditions doesn’t automatically mean that the complex isn’t friendly to pets—provided you and your pet fit within the guidelines. However, if you have a pet such as an American Staffordshire Terrier or a Great Dane, or are fostering a litter of playful kittens, you should definitely check out the pet policy before getting invested in a particular property.

Inspect The Available Pet Amenities During Your Tour

Picture of dog park in our Carmel apartment community

Just like you’d view the gym on your in-person tour, make sure to check the amenities for pets. Dedicated areas for your dog to play help your pooch get out some energy and give you a place where they can socialize. Walking stations with bags for waste disposal, trash cans, and water bowls keep the community clean. Some apartments even set up pet playdates or discounts on grooming for residents!

While these amenities for pets seem great on paper, the actual measure of their friendliness to pets is how well they’re kept up. If the area for dogs to play is overflowing with weeds or brambles, then it’s pretty much useless. Pet-friendly complexes make certain that dog poop bags are consistently refilled and that the trash cans don’t overflow. When you set up your tour of the complex in Carmel, make sure that the accommodations for pets are maintained as well as the ones for the humans.

Read Reviews To Discover Pet-Friendly Intangibles

If you are unsure whether a complex is a good place for a pet or not, make sure to explore the reviews on the Carmel apartment complex. Many apartment residents consider their fur-babies as an integral part of their family and have no problem sharing stories about their experiences. You may find out that maintenance carries dog treats to pass out during service calls. Or that the front office organizes an adoption event with the humane society. You probably can mark those down in the “friendly to pets” column.

These reviews will also expose the properties that will not refund deposits at move-out because of pet cleaning, or the ones who impose an inordinate amount of monthly fees for dogs and cats. Just don’t let one single negative opinion change your mind, but if you see a trend of irritated dog and cat owners, then you might consider looking at another community.

Highpointe on Meridian Apartments Would Be A Great New Home In Carmel For You And Your Dog Or Cat

When you’re researching a pet-friendly apartment in Carmel, make sure to take a look at Highpointe on Meridian Apartments. We’d love to show you the perfect place where you and your cat or dog can call home. Just call at (317) 342-0670 or click the schedule a tour button below.  We also offer virtual tours! If you can’t visit the property, explore our detailed virtual tours.