Buyers in today's market have a lot of choices among properties. It has been said over and over that a home needs photos in the MLS to help bring buyers to the door. We mentioned on numerous occassions that the endless photos of toliets (seat up) don't add any value to the photo array. However there are also those photos that you might not have thought of that will keep the prospective buyers away from your door as well. 
The photo of your pet. You may have a nice clean home and we could open the door and never know about your pet(s) espcecially if you took them out for a walk when we made our appointment. Yet when one of the photos in the MLS clearly shows a "pack" of dogs or a cat in every photo the chances are a buyer is going to immediately question whether the house is in the clean and updated condition that the MLS listing describes.
People who have pets and love them forget that there are others that don't share their feelings. As much as you could hope that the buyer of your home would concentrate on the lovely hardwood floors or granite countertops the chances are that the photo of your pet will stop them in their tracks. As your agent is setting up the photos of your home you might want to ask them what they are featuring as part of your listing. If they think your pets are cute and might bring more buyers do a double check on that thinking. They may actually be doing just the opposite.
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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.
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Back when my old condo was for sale, I had a huge white cat who would climb up on top of the fridge and then hiss like a lunatic when people came in. That's when I learned about cat phobias, not to mention allergies. And my agent didn't have the courage to tell me send it to camp for a while.
But you're right - keep the little creatures out of the photos!
Cindy, That's great advice for both agents and sellers. As much as we love our pets, there's always someone who doesn't like animals. Thanks for sharing.
Patricia-A hissing cat on top of the fridge I wouldn't have thought that of you :-) When I ran across this photo in the MLS today I knew why the house had been on the market for awhile without ever opening the front door.
Karen-We love our pets and most of them are no problem but when you start to see an "unusual" number in a house you know the chances of finding a clean and well maintained home start to go down.
Very good point, Cindy! An agent must do what's necessary to sell a home and that includes 'neutral' pictures. This deserves to be featured.
You are indeed right on the money here!!! In addition to that, if a client has experienced one messy home with pets, those photos could indeed put them off!
I think it is very important to keep pets out of the photos, and out of the home when showings occur. Its always best to stay as neutral as possible.
Good post!
We have had clients not want to look at a home since they saw an animal of some sort in the pictures.
Even if the home owner does not have these problems it starts them thinking of smells, hair, bathroom accidents, allergies and on and on.
THAT photo was in the MLS?? OMG! Even if I had pets, I would think twice if I saw pets in the photos. I have seen MLS photos that included a cat or dog or some other pet. But, a pack? LOL
Very good stuff Cindy! I agree...One thing I may do to win points with the sellers is take a picture of the pet and email it to them. That way they see I care about their pet. But, I don't want that showing up in a listing photo!
This is so true. As an agent who is allergic to pet dander as are some of my clients, I would try to avoid a home that has several pets.
With so many properties out there today, there is always more than one 'perfect home' for a client.
I am a big advocate of great listing photos - not just photos - GREAT photos. "Great" photos don't feature pets. Nice post.....
I saw a photo yesterday in the MLS of the homeowner sitting on a bench in his back yard. I couldn't believe it.
What are they thinking, and once a child was watching TV in the greatroom. Talk about unprofessional.
good post , pets as much as we love them need to be out of the photos Potential buyers sometimes are leary about pets in the house !
Cindy, so very true! Those online photos are the first impression of the home and they better be right!
What a perfect perfect reminder! I love pets too but for people who don't it conjures ugly images of a dirty house with nasty smells involved!
First, I keep thinking of the picture that made the rounds a while ago of the dogs outside the window...
Second, I have had agents call me and ask me about the pets in their clients homes... and then ask if their clients could call me so I could say the same thing.
Sellers, your agent may love dogs or cats. The other agent may love dogs or cats. The buyer may love dogs or cats... but if they don't then there is a good chance you'll lose the showing.
Keep pets and family members out of the pics. Concentrate on the home! Thanks for the post. Very nice.
Don't forget to put the dog bed and food bowl away either!
OHHHHHH.... my daughter is looking for a house and emailed me a link to look at. What did I see in the picture but a cat "tree" for climbing. The house is not being considered....
Too funny. I can’t believe someone actually put that photo in their MLS.
And I agree with Barb's comment… not only should the pets be out of the picture, but any evidence of them should be out of the pictures as well. Bowls, leashes, birdcages, litter-boxes, etc. should all be removed.
One of the funniest pictures I saw had “grandpa” snoozing in the recliner – and someone actually used the shot.
I can not believe someone put that photo in the MLS - unbelieveable!
Cindy I agree with you about animals in MLS pics. Ive had agents and buyers with noses like anteaters (or Jimmy Durante whichever you prefer) come in to my listing and the first thing they do is take a huge snoze full of the smell of the home to access if animals had lived there.
Also Ive seen so many women agents use pictures of beds- 3 or 4 in an MLS listings that I just had to make a comment about that as well. Pics of beds r nice but do they really add anything to the Listing besides catering to female buyers?
Cape Cod Realtor
Completely agreed that Listing Pictures should be clean & neutral (I especially love kitchen photos with the full garbage can in plain view). But a photo with a dog in it is better than walking in and almost getting attacked by a pit bull! Lock up your pets & leave plenty of warning.
Cindy what are about the listing that does not have any pictures at all. Then when you get there,you see why there are no pictures for the listing. Maybe they though putting that photo would let them know that the home owners are animal lovers. Great post.
real sage advice thanks
I've seen so many pet bowls in photos and I know that turns off people too. I've heard buyers walk in a house and say "oh, they have a dog" and don't seem happy yet they own 3! It seems if only it's the same breed that people are ok with it!
Cindy - I agree with not including pets in the photos. You never know if your perfect buyer is allergic to cats or was attacked by a dog and doesn't want anything to do with them. Keep Fido out of the frame.
Wow,
I don't think I ever seen a picture with that many animals posted on the MLS! Wow...I wouldn't call it the home's biggest selling feature!
Great advice Cindy. There are many people you do not mind pets, but are very allergic to them. People also wonder how clean the home is and how it smells.
Good post - potential buyers are making the choice of whether or not to view the home based on these pictures - this is the new CURB APPEAL!
I had a great on the other day... Photos of the grocery store, strip mall, gas station, and bus stop down the street. Oddly enough, very few of the actual condo. Had me wondering, but I knew better... The place was a wreck on the inside, BTW, but within walking distance of beer!!
It is amazing how many people become offended if you suggest they don't promote their pets while selling. The basic rule should be that you are promoting your home to sell, not to show the public how you live.
I'll take pets ANYDAY over cranky kids....