Home > Blogs > Sondra Meyer: > From the Mountains to the Marinas

Would you clean up the dog poop?

By Sondra Meyer:

Real Estate Agent with EXP Realty, LLC

April 07, 2014 11:26 PM

This morning Larry Lohrman's Photography for Real Estate blog post was, "How Far Woud You Go To Clean Up for A Real Estate Photoshoot?" A picture from a video clip is shown. Someone, I don't know if it was the photographer or the real estate agent, was cleaning up a huge pile of dog poop that was on the master bedroom bed. GROSSSSSSS. I'll admit, a photographer just can't overlook the poop on the bed. Do you just not photograph the master bedroom?

The dog poop being on the master bed is troubling. However, I'm sure many agents have encountered indoor doggie accidents. What about those? I remember as a kid pretending our dog's accident so that way I wouldn't have to clean it up.

I've helped a client clean horse stalls in the past. I've picked up dead bugs more times than I can count. I think I'd have to draw the line at dog poop though. As a real estate photographer, there isn't enough money in photographing the listing to spend a significant percentage of my time at the house cleaning up dog poop. Cleaning up someone's dog poop would require finding the materials, cleaning it up, and dealing with the urge to vomit.....

As a real estate broker, I have more of an investment to help the sellers make their home show well. Yet, I think I'd have to draw the line at dog poop. What about you? Would you clean up the dog poop?

Sincerely,

Sondra Meyer Peterson, CPA

Real Estate Photographer

Home Stager
Colorado Horse Property Specialist

Colorado. See It. Experience It. Live It

Re-Blog

Comments(24)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Sondra-IMHO it should be the responsibility of the seller to clean their dogs poop so I would probably NOT do it. At one time I didn't want to shovel horse poop for a friend's horses but I did end up doing that but this is way ABOVE and beyond what a realtor should need to do. That is DISGUSTING that it happens at all on someones bed but expecting someone else to clean that up is just WRONG in my eyes

Apr 08, 2014 12:50 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

I read his blog and viewed the humorous video of The Glamorous Life of the Real Estate Agent Sondra. I have always had funny feelings about agents and in this case photographers DOING what the Seller ought to do "BEFORE" you arrive. That said, with stagers helping me, I have spent an hour IDENTIFYING what to do on one hand and leaving to come back another day, or TWO, when they were close friend sellers of mine, spending half a day decluttering and moving things around, cleaning up trash. As far as POOP on the bed, I have not encountered it that bad with dogs or cats before, and would roll my eyes probably and DIRECT THEM (not me) with gloves to clean that up. POOP is the responsibility of the seller. Where do you come up with these questions? Oh yes, wacky videos you find LOL.

Apr 08, 2014 01:42 AM

Catherine Ulrey

Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR

Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

Nope, I am with you. That's gross, and like you, I handle a lot of horse poo.

Apr 08, 2014 02:12 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Sondra - With 4 dogs (none of whom would consider pooping anywhere in the house), I'm not all that sensitive to dog poop - inside, outside, someone still has to scoop it up and I'm the guy. But someone else's house and dog? If it were a client, I'd probably do it but I wouldn't be happy about it - bye bye closing gift.

Apr 08, 2014 04:26 AM

Ron and Alexandra Seigel

Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA

Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Sondra,

I remember seeing a house with dog poop everywhere inside...could not wait to get out of there...I do think the owners of the home should be responsible for that! A

Apr 08, 2014 05:44 AM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Sondra~ No way, no how! Not inside or out. That is the homeowner's issue to deal with. Of course it could present problems with showing depending on the circumstances, but for the photo shoot? I would shoot everything else and reschedule the master bedroom. YUCK!

Apr 08, 2014 07:32 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I remember my first listing. As the first buyers were waling up the sidewalk, the cat made a mess. And yes I did clean it up! House sold!

Apr 09, 2014 02:03 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I too would do it for a client - but begrudgingly. It's not something I've encountered yet- and hope it doesn't happen - ever. :)

Apr 09, 2014 08:52 AM

John G. Johnston

John G. Johnston & Associates, LLC - Westcliffe, CO

An Exclusive Buyer's Agent ~ Westcliffe, CO

Sondra I would agree with Dick (#8) and Debb (#12). Where were the sellers?

Apr 10, 2014 12:08 PM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sondra

Cleaning is above and beyond what expected of a real estate professionals . . . . But the professional goes beyond what's expected of them.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Apr 11, 2014 12:23 PM

Debbie Laity

Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I think it would depend on my relationship with the seller. Like Dick...I don't mind cleaning up after animals. But if it was a difficult seller I had, I don't think I would do it and I would point out the 'accident' to the seller. I have shoveled snow for a client that was out of town, and it snowed several inches the night before a showing. I wanted the house to look nice and be ready for the showing.

Apr 11, 2014 02:15 PM

Tom White

Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN

Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Sondra, I just came over from Debbie Reynold's blog introducing agents working with equestrian properties. Interesting subject here! LOL. I would do the clean-up, but man, I wouldn't like it and it would be time for a heart to heart with the seller! Can't happen again!

Apr 19, 2014 04:24 AM

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

Sondra, I have done it all! In addition, we've all visited properties where no one did the clean up!

Apr 19, 2014 04:30 PM

Nick T Pappas

Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL

Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Sondra, I've done a lot of things for my clients as most of us have, but I'm afraid the line is drawn at cleaning up after Rover!

Apr 21, 2014 11:50 AM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I would clean it up but a quick call to the seller would be in order, no point in taking pictures if they are going to leave the home in this kind of shape for showings.

Apr 23, 2014 02:10 AM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

It was great talking to you yesterday Sondra, I am looking forward to reading your post about the Sensai Grasshopper.

Apr 23, 2014 02:17 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

Sondra ...Amazing ...yes I would get rid of it, but like others I would have to have a heart to heart with the sellers!

Have a great day!

Apr 23, 2014 10:54 PM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I do not think the photographer should be responsible for cleaning up dog poop or doing any other house cleaning.

May 02, 2014 11:48 PM

Janet Griswold

Bellevue, WA

I'm new to ActiveRain and your post made me realize that you really CAN find help and information on just about anything. If I found myself in that situation, I would probably just fold up the bedspread and take the shot. The owner could choose to use the photo or not. If I needed to go back, I would charge a small fee.

Oct 17, 2014 07:29 AM

Sondra Meyer:

Corpus Christi, TX

Sondra Meyer:

EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX

See It. Experience It. Live It.

Janet, you've got me laughing. I still find that situation so gross. Today I'm in the mood that I'd take the picture and "photoshop" the poop out. I'd also make sure the owner was notified about the problem. I just can't do big piles of doggie poop.

Oct 20, 2014 08:29 AM