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Animals of the MLS

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Zion Realty

If this week's featured pet on Animals of the MLS could talk they would either be telling us to "come on in" or "go away". Either scenario is a possibility, however, we do know that they are eagerly awaiting a guest to come to the door while they check out the activity happening on the front porch. If I had to guess, we could probably find this guy gazing out of his favorite window multiple times per day to make sure there aren't any mailmen, stray cats, or passing vehicles he needs to bark at. 

I'm sure this furry friend of the family is most likely the type that patiently waits by the front door for their owners to come home. Ample tail wagging, jumping, and vigorous barking most assuredly ensues upon the sellers returning from work each day. The problem with this habit is that it will perhaps be repeated when any potential buyers stop by to view the property. Unless the animal is removed or kenneled for showings, a potential home shopper may get an overly enthusiastic greeting when they visit this house. Small children, elderly clients, or those buyers who have a fear of animals will be turned off by such an exuberant reception even if the animal is well intended. 

As for the picture of the front porch itself I'm not sure what the agent was attempting to highlight. It's not a large enough area that you can sit out on a warm evening while sipping an ice cold beverage, swinging on your porch swing and waving at the neighbors. There isn't anything particularly enticing or intriguing about the front door. It seems fairly standard and nothing to boast about as a selling feature. Other than a small amount of greenery and the dog peering at you through the glass there's really nothing "alive" about this photograph. Normally I'd have a suggestion or two about how a picture could have been taken better but in all honestly I would have just skipped this one altogether. This isn't a porch that needed to be highlighted in any way as a selling feature to potential buyers. It's not as if it's necessarily an undesirable space, I'm just guessing there were other parts of the home that could have been touched upon instead. 

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(18)

Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Good afternoon Amanda,

Looks like a lost soul or waiting for a stroll. But it is a nice door!

Make yourself a great day.

Nov 21, 2015 04:07 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

This weekly feature of yours usually gets an LOL from me, as does this one Nicole.

Nov 21, 2015 04:13 AM
Rosemarie Heindel
Harry Norman Realtors - Big Canoe, GA
Rosemarie Heindel

Very cute picture and I do like the wooden door. Thanks for sharing.

Nov 21, 2015 04:18 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Nicole-I agree with your assessment.  While not a bad entryway nothing selling worthy in the pic either.

Nov 21, 2015 05:07 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

cute little doggie, the porch and door, well eh? not really photo worthy.

Nov 21, 2015 06:00 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Nicole I don't know why you can't see it, it is obvious the Agent feels this special front door clearly adds another $10,000 to the value of the house :) :) :)

Nov 21, 2015 06:06 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 love this series Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert ...It took me a few seconds tonight ....but there he is to the left of the door

Hope you have a great night out west!

Nov 21, 2015 06:16 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Nicole,

This is one I would have tossed out of the pile.  It could have been improved with plants and an entry lilght perhaps.  A

Nov 21, 2015 06:48 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

If the front door of one of my listings isn't visible in the exterior shot, I will often take one of the front door area itself.  I can sort of understand the pic and why it's there for that reason.

Nov 21, 2015 07:27 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I really enjoy these "Animals of the MLS" that you post, Nicole.  It provides a little of the lighter side to real estate.

Nov 21, 2015 09:37 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Raymond - He's waiting for someone to pay attention to him!

Roger - It gets an LOL and a SMH from me every week! 

Rosemarie - It's a nice door but I'm not sure it needed to be in a feature photo on the MLS listing of the home.

Sharon - The listing could have done without it altogether.

Tammy - There had to have been some other feature they could have highlighted besides this porch and door. 

Nov 21, 2015 10:36 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

George - Maybe it's a special door that, once entered through, transports you to a magical place called "homeownership". 

Rob - It should be a good night. Mild temperatures and maybe a little red wine. 

Alexandra - I would have deleted it. A good exterior photo of the front of the home would have done just fine I think. 

Chris Ann - I can understand that. If you're going to do that then at least get the dog out of the way first. 

Myrl - It's a fun Saturday post. 

Nov 21, 2015 10:40 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Nicole.  Looks like all he wants is a good belly rub and a little attention.  

Nov 21, 2015 06:43 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Sometimes agents use up their "picture quota" whether or not thre is anything worth showing....ie furnaces and hot water heaters...urgh !

Nov 22, 2015 05:57 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Oh so sweet but not what you want in you MLS photos. I am not sure that I would have used that porch shot at all.

Nov 22, 2015 11:23 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

James - Hopefully that's all he wants but even the friendliest of dogs can still pose a problem for potential buyers. 

S & D - I thought that same thing. Some agents have a set amount of photos they want to take so they'll use up the quota no matter what. 

Debbie - I for one would not have. I just don't see the point. 

Nov 23, 2015 12:57 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Nicole, I feel the photo shows a crisp clean entry to the front door. I  see clean and what appears to be well maintained. Clearly the dog should not be in the photo and removed for showings.

Nov 23, 2015 01:47 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Nicole -- I don't think the photo of the front door is so bad that it couldn't be saved with just a little "staging" effort.   As far as that cute dog waiting --- I'd also be afraid that he/she might be so enthusiastic when the door opens that he/she might run away -- I don't ever like to be in that position.

Nov 23, 2015 11:50 PM