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Good Dog! Pets Are Showing Up in Listing Photos

A growing number of sellers are using pets in their staging photos, but be careful, experts say. Pets could raise questions about unwanted odors, among other things.

NEW YORK – Until recently sellers were advised not to include their pets in photos of home listings. Now agents are saying that well-behaved dogs in photo listings, especially in living spaces, can be a positive.

Typically, pets in photos would prevent buyers from picturing themselves in the home. But agents now are including pets in listing photos as a new staging item. Agents caution that it would depend on the breed of the dog when looking to include pets in listing photos.

Dogs are not the only pets being considered for listing photos. Some agents are including cats, but they caution that pets should be strategically used, and photos should not include too many pets.

Other agents say including pets in listing photos just raises questions in sellers' minds about unwanted odors, issues with floors or lower walls or fur-clogged filters. These agents tell their clients to remove all signs of pets from their homes because you want a home to appeal all potential buyers not just a certain segment of the market.

Source: Realtor.com (06/17/24) Blakeley, Kiri

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