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How to help your pet on moving day

Moving house a stressful time for everyone. 

Having animals can contribute to the stress, as you wonder how to help your pet on moving day. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help your furry friend, and many animals pick up on their owners’ stress, excitement and anticipation as the big day approaches.

Therefore, to minimise their ordeal it’s important that you plan a smooth move for your pet too, and have plans in place for them for actual moving day and the days afterwards. Several of our Bromley Property Company team are animal lovers and have pets themselves, so understand how important it is that your beloved pet is well looked after too.

Before The Move

Don’t leave it until last minute to decide on how to help your pet on moving day. Start planning weeks or even months ahead, as depending on what time of year you are likely to move, many dog sitters and catteries get booked up a long time in advance.

If you are moving out of the area, do some research on the area you are moving to. Where will your nearest vet be? Where is the nearest emergency vet? If you have a dog, where would be a good place to take them for a walk? Knowing the answers to such questions in advance will make the move less stressful for you both.

During The Move

In most cases, the best option for what to do with pets on moving day will be to have a friend or family member look after them, away from your home. Ideally, this should be someone the pet is already familiar with and will enjoy staying with. When a friend or family member is not available, you may be able to find a local pet sitter who can look after your animal for a few hours on the day.

By doing this, the pet will be unaware of any moving day stresses, and you can concentrate on the actual move. 

However, this isn’t always possible, especially if you are moving a long way, have a nervous pet, or simply don’t have anyone able to help you out- your pet may have no choice but to be at home with you. In this case, the best thing you can do is find the quietest room in the house and make sure everything has been moved out of that room in advance. Then, put the pet in that room with plenty of food and water, toilet facilities (where possible), a few favourite toys, and a warm bed. This will give them somewhere safe and secure to wait out the move.

If you have a cat or a dog, it’s worth placing a pheromone spray in the room such as Feliway for cats or Adaptil for dogs. These give off pheromones that will help to keep your pet calm and reduce their stress levels- such a great idea and something we’ve only recently discovered through a few clients recommending it!

Make sure that no one enters the pets ‘safe’ room though, the last thing you want is your pet getting out on moving day! Put a sign on the door and make sure you tell everyone involved in the move why they shouldn’t enter that room.

Post-Move

Whilst you understand why you’re in a new home, your pet won’t. It will be confused, and possibly scared in the new, unfamiliar surroundings.Be prepared for your pet being destructive, urinating on things, or just generally being disobedient. Try not to get upset with your pet for such behaviour, as this will hopefully only last a short while, and keep as calm as possible to help them settle in.

The previously mentioned pheromone spray used during the move will come in handy so be sure to use it in the new property. The technique of creating a ‘safe’ room like you did on moving day will also work wonders for your pet, giving them a place they can retreat when it all gets too much. 

Make sure your new home is also ‘pet-safe’. Are there exposed cables your pet may chew on? Are there any small gaps that need blocking off so your pet doesn’t get stuck or run away? Minimise any risks.

One of the most important things is to get into a normal routine as quickly as possible. Like children, pets love routines as it takes away uncertainty and reduces anxiety. The sooner you can get things back to ‘normal’ the better. With this in mind, try and get at least one or two rooms fully unpacked and as you want them. If you have a dog, start taking it for walks at set times, and keep mealtimes the same too.

So that’s how to help your pet on moving day. There isn’t a way to ensure that moving house is completely stress-free for anyone, let alone pets. However, if you follow these tips they’ll hopefully help everyone, including your furry pal, settle in as quickly as possible.

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Lewis McKale

Director, Residential Sales, Lettings & New Homes

lewis@propertycompanygroup.com

lewis@bromleypropertycompany.com

07507 656 668

020 8462 7155

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Lewis has over 20 years experience in the property industry. As a young negotiator he worked for large South East London Estate Agency and he also worked his way up to Associate Director at a City based Estate Agency by the time he was 25.

He jointly owned and sold a successful business in the East End of London before deciding to come back to his roots and set up Bromley Property Company in late 2016.

Lewis is a life long Bromley Borough resident and hails from West Wickham where he attended Wickham Common Primary School and then Hayes Secondary School.

He's married with three children, all of whom attend local schools. Both himself and his wife are very active with local autistic charities helping with various events.

Football plays a big part in his life, playing for Charlton Athletic youth team in his early days and he is an avid supporter of Bromley FC.

The competitive drive that pushes him on is what helps fuel his passion for the business. This and his in-depth knowledge of the borough is a great combination which helps deliver the results his clients have come to expect.

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Kyle Peters

Director, Land & Commercial

kyle@propertycompanygroup.com

020 8462 7155

07801 577 782

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In a career spanning more than 20 years Kyle has bought, sold and let Real Estate of all types and sizes in every sector of property industry. Throughout this time he was a long serving founder member of one of the South East’s most successful Commercial & Development property agencies. In addition to a successful agency career he has held senior client-side positions in asset & property management and investment and development acquisitions affording Kyle a holistic viewpoint and greater understanding of the entire process than some agents.

Technically knowledgeable and with a keen eye for detail he has a deep understanding of how to effectively market a property and revels in getting amongst the strategy of a transaction to ensure his clients expectations are regularly exceeded.

With a natural flair for identifying development opportunities and adding value Kyle works regularly with a number of clients on acquisitions and development & planning consultancy and has specialisms in the retirement, care and affordable housing sectors.

Born and raised in the Bromley area, outside of work Kyle enjoys spending as much time as possible with his young family, travelling and all things car related.

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Stuart Jackson

Sales & Lettings

stuart@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Stuart has worked in the property industry for 10 years now.

Previously working in the East End of London specialising in Shoreditch and The City but deciding to come back to his roots and work in Bromley, Stuart brings his enthusiasm, knowledge and hard work to the company and local Bromley residents will all benefit from this.

Stuart is also a local lad that grew up in Keston, attending Keston Primary School and Hayes Secondary School so his local knowledge is second to none. Currently living in Shortlands Stuart prides himself on his excellent customer service levels and is always available to talk about property and will accommodate viewings whenever he can 7 days a week.

Stuart works very close with Lewis in ensuring that Bromley Property Company offer a customer service unlike any other local estate agent making sure all of our clients be it Vendors, Landlords, Buyers or Tenants are all looked after and dealt with in the best way possible.

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Angela McKale

Admin & Marketing
 

angela@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Angela has worked supporting Lewis and his team for the last 5 years now and has taken the admin side of the business over and helps to ensure that our clients are given a service that is as efficient as possible.

She is responsible for that majority of the companies marketing and she also looks after the properties on our website as well as ensuring our clients are written to promptly.

Helping to run diaries for the team and ensuring everyone is kept on their toes is a real help and she helps keep things organised and ensures the business runs as efficiently as possible.

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Trevor Doran

Head of Property Management

management@bromleypropertycompany.com

07740 055 025

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Trevor has over 30 years’ experience in maintaining and managing properties.
20 years in the home improvement industry rising to director level served him well as a landlord and since 2009 owning and running his own business specialising purely in property letting and management.
A lifelong Bromley borough resident Trevor runs Bromley Property Company’s letting and management department and continues to operate at the highest possible levels of professionalism and service as the portfolio grows.
Sport and fitness play a big part in Trevor’s life as he tries to keep up with two athletic children currently in sixth form and university. He also follows the fortunes of the ever-improving Bromley FC.

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Amy has worked in Lettings and property management for 10 years starting as a Lettings Negotiator for a corporate Estate Agents in Dartford.

She then worked for an independent Estate Agent in Bexley as a Property Manager and then as Branch Manager for 3 years.

She took some time out when she had her daughter and started working again in Property Management 3 years ago.

Amy has a BA (Hons) Degree in Fashion and enjoys making clothes and she is also classically trained to Grade 6 in Piano.

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Becky Freeman

Digital Marketing & Social Media

becky@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Becky brings with her nearly a decade of digital marketing and multi-award nominated lifestyle blogging experience, and has worked with both household names and smaller companies to create content and enhance their social and online presence. She has appeared in various Interiors & lifestyle magazines, written for publications including The Guardian, and appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas’ winning her category of Christmas table styling!

After a disappointing experience trying to sell her house with a local high street agent, West Wickham-based Becky had heard great things about Bromley Property Company, swapped to us and quickly sold, and says she couldn't rate Lewis and his team's knowledge of the area and honest valuation highly enough.

As a bit of a property geek with a background in both business and lifestyle marketing, Becky is now on board to oversee all things digital for us through her agency Becky Freeman Digital.

Living and raising 3 children in the local area, Becky loves Bromley and all it has to offer a young family.

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Mary Radovanovich

MAAT, MICB PM.Dip., Accounts
 

mary@bromleypropertycompany.com

020 8462 7155

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Mary has been in the accounting industry for over 23 years and has a license with the AAT and ICB. Mary prides herself on excellent customer service and strongly believes in building a close working relationship with her clients.

Mary deals with the invoice payments and tax for the group as well as assisting with all aspects of accounting.