Estate agents across the UK have begun enlisting the help of pets in order to sell houses, after the trend took off in the US.
It is thought that adding a family pet such as a dog or a cat into a living room scene in a property brochure can help make the house more appealing to potential buyers by giving it a homely touch.
According to The Telegraph, the so-called ‘pet placement’ trend began in New York, where one estate agent claims to have sold a Manhattan penthouse simply by placing a poodle in the property in order to give a warmer appearance.
Damian Gray of Knight Frank estate agents in Oxford says the company has used several animals to help sell properties, including dogs, horses, geese, donkeys and even a koi carp.
Of course prospective house buyers should remember that properties do not actually come with pets included.