Using pets as props to sell a home? Not a great idea

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Published Date 6/26/2024

The effects of home staging are well known by now. Enticing online photos are, after all, the first hook for many buyers. But what about the practice of including pets in at least one of those photos? Realtor’s Kiri Blakey had a few agents weigh in on whether placing a dog or cat in a given photo is a good idea.

Brooklyn-based agent Noemi Bitterman says when arranging a photo shoot for a three-bedroom Brooklyn co-op she was representing, the sellers’ brown poodle decided to photobomb efforts by hopping onto a couch and refusing to leave. So the agent just stopped fighting it and had the photo taken, saying the pooch blended in with the color of the couch and gave the apartment a feeling of warmth and family. “People were calling up saying, ‘I love that photo with the dog’” and the nearly million dollar listing sold quickly.

Planned or unplanned, it seems some real estate agents have embraced pets as the hot new sales prop. But take heart just in case you’re thinking of offering your dog its fifteen minutes of fame: Not all dogs are treated equally — especially breeds not known for friendliness even if you have your own opinions about the stereotypes.

Like all things, pets are best used in moderation. “If I see more than four animals in a listing, I’ll usually just avoid the property,” says one agent Blakely interviewed. Many agents think including pets in listings photos is a bad idea: Why alert homebuyers to potential issues such as unwanted odors or fur-clogged filters?

“I would be sniffing intently to see if there is any spray or issues on the floors or lower walls,” says agent Elizabeth Boese. “Furry animals in the home can also mean a forced-air furnace or AC were overworked as the filter clogs more frequently from the extra fur in the air.”

Even if some get the logic, most think it’s a bad idea. Thousands of potential buyers are allergic to pet dander and similar to how the house of heavy smokers must be thoroughly repainted and all its drapery and furniture fumigated, agents say the presence of pets can raise the same concerns for some buyers.

While agents use marketing tactics like including pets, staged people, or other props to make their listings go viral, buyers tend to prioritize location, architecture, and interior finishes — not pets or props. In addition, there are insurance and safety concerns, as most sellers are encouraged to remove their pets during showings or open houses.

Former Realtor Dena Kouremetis recalls hosting an open house in which a terrarium contained a pet snake. She warned those walking through the house of the room where the snake dwelled, just in case they preferred to avoid it. By the time she poked her head into that room halfway through the open house, she noticed the lid to the terrarium had been shoved aside and the snake was missing. Rather than hunt for the creature, she shut down the open house, leaving a note for the owner. Who wanted to have the slithery thing poke its head out and cause someone a heart attack?

If you are itching to use a pet in a listing photo, fish are a good option. But if you insist on staging using your dog, keep the photo in the backyard.

Realtor, TBWS

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