It came as a surprise to nobody involved in our real estate photography case study that removing your giant dog prior to taking photos is just a good idea. Study participants were unanimous in their decision not to view the property in person.
Hat tip to Sara at lovelylisting, via Photoshop Disasters
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Steve Belt
July 28, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Yes, the problem here was clearly that the dog was too large (giant even)…smaller probably wouldn’t have bothered the majority.
Benn Rosales
July 28, 2008 at 6:27 pm
lol I love it. Being remarable ain’t easy.
Jamie Geiger
July 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm
How did they do that? LOL He looks harmless 🙂
Benn Rosales
July 28, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Ever been turned down by an apartment or condo because of a big dog, or had your yard sized up for a dog? just another thought…
Norm Fisher
July 28, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Steve,
I think you’re probably right, but almost everyone thought the home was “too small” and several had “a feeling” that the yard would require “too much work.”
Benn 🙂
Jamie,
It would have been created in Photoshop or some other photo editing program. I think the more compelling question is why? I agree. He looks like a sweetheart of a pooch.
Benn Rosales
July 28, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Norm, we’re marketing these listings all over the country in venue after venue, the question becomes- how do I stand out and become remarkable. Whether you believe it or not, this is viral, and it has a place. Does it always work? no, can it work? yes! Redfin currently graces the top position at Ag for the moment, as well as the listing, is this a bad thing?
Norm Fisher
July 28, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Benn,
“Redfin currently graces the top position at Ag for the moment”
I’m hoping this is not a problem. 🙂
The fact that 17247 11th Avenue NE is on the front page of your website leaves little doubt that it’s viral.
“is this a bad thing?”
Probably not. It just seemed like a good opportunity to crack a joke. 🙂 I can see how such an image could stand out from others. I did find it interesting that the “giant dog” doesn’t exist on the listing brokerages website (Windermere).
Larry Yatkowsky
July 28, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Very clever! I was distracted by the dog until I noticed the sloping floor.
Norm Fisher
July 28, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Brilliant Larry! I can see how this could work. I’m off to photoshop a giant cat into an ugly listing.
Ines
July 28, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Personally, I think the dog is the selling point of the property (but that’s why studies and I don’t get along) – odd no? 😉
Norm Fisher
July 28, 2008 at 9:31 pm
@ Ines
“odd no?”
No 😉
Ginger Wilcox
July 28, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Can I just buy the dog and not the house?
Bill Lublin
July 29, 2008 at 1:14 am
Norm Great Post – I love a big dog! Our Black Lab Cisco the Superdog is pretty big, but we can fit him in the kitchen. My question is who the heck walks this puppy?
Irina Netchaev
July 29, 2008 at 8:23 am
Too funny and very original. I’ll take the dog. Forget the house!
Vicki Moore
July 29, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I’m glad I don’t have to pick up his poop.
Glenn fm Naples
July 29, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Norm – thanks for a light-hearted photo. It is truly wonderful what can be done with PhotoShop! Just wish I add the time to fool around with it. Cute pooch.
Lani Anglin-Rosales
July 30, 2008 at 9:18 am
And now we learn the backstory of this photo- turns out the agent and photographer are friends and the photographer was told “I don’t want to see the damn dog in the shot” and it became a joke… and a viral image! Niiice.
Hat tip to Redfin.
Norm Fisher
July 30, 2008 at 9:26 am
Lani,
Thanks for the follow-up. I would love to hear some stats on the hits to this listing. I’ll bet they’re through the roof.
Jennifer in Louisville
August 1, 2008 at 6:41 am
Interesting side story. I suppose it all comes to intent – if you think you can pull off a “viral” campaign by trying something, give it a go. But by the same token, has the traffic that they’ve received with this viral campaign paid off: is the home sold?