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Animals of the MLS

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Zion Realty

Let me just say that I love this week's featured pet on Animals of the MLS! Pugs are one of my favorite dogs. They're cute, loving, friendly, and are almost always up for a good time no matter where you take them. This adorable animal is at full attention for one reason or another. Is the owner hiding around the corner just out of sight and this little guy is sticking by their side waiting for it's next treat of the day? Is it standing guard at the stairway in case anyone dare have the audacity to try and get by them? 

Regardless of what has the attention of our four-legged friend one thing is for sure; They don't care about the agent taking pictures of their home at this moment in time. Whatever they are being distracted by is certainly more important than a stranger with a camera. If the owner is standing just out of sight I wonder why it is that they didn't ensure their pet moved just a few feet more as to ensure a clean shot of the room. Even though pugs are notoriously friendly, it still shouldn't cloud the fact that animals should be crated or removed for showings. 

As for the picture of the room itself it leaves a lot to be desired. It's just plain boring in my opinion. Everything is bland and a little too neutral. I know buyers like to walk in to a home and immediately be able to envision their own furniture and decor style fitting in to each space, but this is a little too empty and simplified. It feels like a rental home. It gives the impression of being cold and lifeless. Some pops of color with wall art, perhaps a throw rug, and a few other staging items would have made this room seem so much more welcoming and inviting. The small sliver of the front door jam to the left could have easily been cropped out or they could have simply used a wide-angle lens to capture the full scope of the room. 

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(21)

Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Nicole - It isn't even a room, it's just the most boring part of a room, containing only the information that there is a staircase. The pug looks like a good boy, though.

Oct 17, 2015 08:49 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Nicole -- beyond the pug who unfortunately is not showing his cute face to the camera - this room is so MEH.   I'm sure it's in a subdivision where standing out can be difficult but I believe most buyers would simply say ---Next!

Oct 17, 2015 09:04 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

I really like this series you are doing ...I always make sure they are always out of the photos!

Have a great night!

Oct 17, 2015 09:05 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Nichole may be the purpose of the picture is to suggest to the new owner to get a dog to protect the stairway as well :)

Oct 17, 2015 09:18 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

You just know his owner is hiding from the photo but the dog didn't get the message

Oct 17, 2015 09:37 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Nicole Doty,  I am a dog lover and visiting some friends in San Diego that has a great dog.

Oct 17, 2015 10:22 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Nicole, It feels/looks like the sellers have removed things from the walls and painted. Other than Fido the room looks lifeless. Once again, I have to say that the animal in the MLS photo does match the room

Oct 17, 2015 11:24 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

The pug is the only thing interesting in that photo.  The house is very plain jane.

Oct 17, 2015 12:15 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Nicole.  regardless of the breed for whatever reason I wouldn't want to try and walk up those stairs.  Guard dog regardless defense it's territory.

Oct 17, 2015 09:01 PM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Top of the morning Nicole.  Your words are what brings the picture to life.  How many posts do we see about the importance of MLS pics?  Some just are not paying attention.  Enjoy your Sunday Nicole.  Mark

Oct 17, 2015 09:22 PM
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Good morning Nicole,

He is waiting for the picture to come from the other side so he can amile!

Make yourself a great day.

Oct 17, 2015 11:01 PM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

I don't know what the pug was doing, but I know what he WASN'T doing,and that's getting out of the way!

Oct 17, 2015 11:28 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Michael - Professional photographers would not have used this picture for sure.

Dick - I bet he is a good boy and there is nothing inviting about the room.

Michael - Unless there are other parts of the house that wowed, I'm sure this one was a tough sell.

Rob - If at all possible they should be left out. 

George - You may be on to something! What's up those stairs??

Oct 18, 2015 10:02 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Ed - I just don't know why the owner wouldn't have picked him up and moved him out of the way.

Will - I bet they would get out of the way for pictures! 

Kathleen - Plain brown interior and a plain brown dog. I wonder how plain and boring the owners were. 

Chris Ann - Some light staging would have done wonders.

James - I bet there's some special dog toys up there that no one is going to get to if he has any say bout it!

 

Oct 18, 2015 10:06 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Mark - Well this pooch was front and center so I can't imagine the agent missed him. Just a poor choice in photos. 

W & J - He certainly wasn't!

Oct 18, 2015 10:07 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

That cat blends into the background like furniture but at the same time, makes it all the more to the foreground

Oct 18, 2015 04:05 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Front and center is a good place to be in this context—especially when you're showing homes

Oct 18, 2015 04:07 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Hi Nicole-I agree with you 100%. The room is boring. Other than the exterior this is the first thing buyers see and this shouts plain, boring and not interested. NEXT!

Oct 19, 2015 10:26 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Missed this post.....forget the animal in the photo.....boring!  What are they showing off that should interest a buyer?  A hall closet?  Stairs?  Woo Hoo!  Where do I sign?

Oct 19, 2015 11:05 PM
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 ,  Our dog does that just outside the bathroom door whenever we are there.  Maybe the seller is upstairs taking a shower!

Oct 24, 2015 02:56 AM