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Animals of the MLS

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Zion Realty

Back to the canine variety with this week's Animals of the MLS. Here we have a very large but content family pet relaxing the day away on the back porch. If this guy were human I'd imagine him kicking back on the patio furntire with a nice cold beverage in his hand enjoying a cool afternoon breeze. It seems as if he doesn't have a care in the world by the looks of this picture. He certainly doesn't seem to have any animosity towards the agent taking pictures of his backyard domain.   

Every animal has their favorite spot to lay down and I bet this little corner is his. He's a big fellow however, and I bet the agent made sure to advise potential buyers of his presence. I certainly hope he was crated or taken for a walk during showings as large breeds can make some individuals anxious and uneasy in spite of his otherwise calm demeanor being displayed here. 

As for the porch itself it's clean and organized. There's not a lot to see or highlight here. Any potential home buyer can see that a nice size set of patio furniture and even a small clay fire pit can fit nicely here with room to stretch out. It's not the biggest entertainers back porch but there have certainly been smaller ones than this one.  If you could get our furry friend to give up his lounging spot I just bet there's enough room to fit a nice barbeque grill. If I were to have listed this home myself I probably would have staged at least a small plant or two to add some life to this otherwise mundane porch setting. 

If you're selling your home in Gilbert, Arizona or the East Valley let the experts at Zion Realty help you. We take professional photos and put together a perfect marketing strategy to sell your property. Contact us at ZionRealtyAZ.com today!

Comments(26)

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Nicole,  Are you sure it is not stuffed?  Let's hope not.  It's easy for me to see past that pooch given how clean and organized the area is.  But still, I agree it would be far better without the dog.

Sep 12, 2015 04:27 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Especially that breed of dog. A big Rottweiler like that would scare many people away. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:00 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Nicole - I always enjoy taking pictures when there are animals around to keep me company, and I can usually reason with the dogs to keep them out of the shots. The cats, not so much.

Sep 12, 2015 05:03 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

You can never reason with cats. Treats often work if they'll let you get close enough to them. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:01 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Some animals make excellent house pets and have beneficial values too. Love your series on this topic Nicole!

Sep 12, 2015 05:51 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I'd say looking at this big fella he probably gives the homeowner plenty of exercise on his walks and that's definitely beneficial. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:02 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Cute, Nicole!  Actually, while the big guys look scary, the only time I've been bitten in the line of duty, it was a toy poodle in one of my listings.  And I thought that dog was my friend!

Sep 12, 2015 07:33 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Those little yippers can be the most rambunctious of the group!

Sep 13, 2015 01:03 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good afternoon Nicole. This is a funny series but I am enjoying this.

Sep 12, 2015 07:45 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Thanks Sheila! This is a fun post to do every week. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:03 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Nicole just like the animals I have my favorite spot to lay down and kick back, and Buyers would be in danger of being bitten if they disturbed me :) :) :)

Sep 12, 2015 09:16 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I bet! I do have my favorite side of the couch I prefer which kicks back in to a nice lazy boy chair! 

Sep 13, 2015 01:04 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

A few plants would have been helpful! As for the dog, hopefully he was gone for showings. I showed a house today with a huge German shepherd who was crated but barking ferociously. My clients small daughter was not happy and it truly impacted the showing.

Sep 12, 2015 09:49 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

That's exactly why I hope this big boy was removed for showings. Even in a crate those large breeds have a very loud bark!

Sep 13, 2015 01:04 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Nicole

I'm a pet owner . . . . but they can have a negative impact on the sale on the home . . . . The owner taking the dog out for a walk . . . . is a step in the right direction.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Sep 12, 2015 12:06 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I think it's the best thing for showings if at all possible. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:05 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert , I don't think I would want to view that house if he were just left to roam about the home.

Sep 12, 2015 01:08 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I agree. I would not take clients in to a showing if a pet that size was there by themselves. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:05 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Nicole - I am a pet friendly agent for sure, but still don't enjoy showing homes with pets in the home. Sometimes my clients may not be pet-friendly, or I get nervous that the pet will escape to some place they shouldn't go.

Sep 12, 2015 03:37 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Pets can be great but they can also be a distraction. I think we've all got stories of when a homeowners pet made a run for it and we had to retrieve it! 

Sep 13, 2015 01:06 AM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

You are right that is clean and in good condition and the pic of the dog, to me, is not a big deal

Sep 12, 2015 03:49 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

This one didn't bother me as much as some others because the animal is tucked away in the corner and not the focal point of the picture. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:07 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Nicole. Pets in an MLS photo usually will do one of two things, folks that love pets will definitely be more interested and the ones that don't like pets will not want to see the property. Love the idea!

Sep 12, 2015 08:40 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

There are also those who are neutral about pets but the minute they see a pet in a photo they immediately start to think of all the clean-up and carpet removal they will need to do if they purchase that home. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:08 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Nicole.  I'll bet he's just waiting for dinner and a cold brew.  

Sep 12, 2015 08:48 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

That's exactly what he's thinking and who could blame him! 

Sep 13, 2015 01:09 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nicole, that pup definitely looks comfy, and blends in with the outdoor furniture!

Sep 13, 2015 12:23 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

He does blend right in! Fortunately he's not too much of a distraction in the photo. 

Sep 13, 2015 01:09 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Nicole -- I'm in the camp that thinks pets, kids and other people, open toilets, dirty laundry and dishes in the sink make life real but not when selling real estate.   Marketing is perception.   

Sep 13, 2015 01:28 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I'd prefer those things not be in MLS photos either. 

Sep 13, 2015 09:16 AM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Great blog Nicole. Rover looks like kick back jack.

Sep 13, 2015 03:19 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

That picture had to have been during the Winter or Fall because it would have been too hot for the Summer.

Sep 13, 2015 09:17 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Nicole- I'm laughing because when we were putting one of our homes on the market, and showing it to the listing agent, our dog thought she was the star of the show.  She would run ahead to the next room and hop on the bed or sofa as if she were posing for the agent.  Needless to say, she went for a ride when the house was being shown. 

Sep 13, 2015 10:04 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Get that dog a real estate license and have them start showing homes! 

Sep 13, 2015 10:13 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Nicole.  That dog is making it ruff to have buyers concentrate on the house

Sep 14, 2015 03:07 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Ba dum chhhh! 

Sep 14, 2015 07:41 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Why do people continue to show pets in MLS pics?  I smell dog, thank you. Nice looking room though!

Sep 14, 2015 06:29 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

I hope they at least had the decency to keep up with the dog poop so the backyard didn't smell horrible whenever a buyer ventured back there. 

Sep 14, 2015 07:41 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

So odd.  The agent could've easily cropped the big guy out and stll had a great patio shot.  

Sep 15, 2015 04:55 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

You're right, it definitely could have been easily cropped.

Sep 15, 2015 07:30 AM