It’s easy to see how Skid the labradoodle — pictured with owners Julian Ramsey, Adrienne Baldwin, Winnie and Rosie 11 — caught buyers’ eyes. Picture: David Caird
Puppy power has helped sell a West Footscray house.
Adrienne Baldwin and Julian Ramsey earned $1.162m for their 46 Pitt Street digs after unleashing their striking labradoodle, Skid, as the star of their selling campaign.
The sale price came in well above the couple’s $1-$1.1m asking price — no mean feat in Melbourne’s coronavirus-hit market.
Skid caught plenty of buyers’ eyes by featuring on the ‘for sale’ board out the front of the three-bedroom house, and in the online listing and promotional video.
Several even asked if the prized pooch came with the home, Bond Estate Agents director Lee Marks said.
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The good boy featured on the for sale sign, as well as in the property’s online listing and promotional video. Picture: David Caird
The photo of Skid used to market the property.
“I’m considering giving Skid a position in the company,” Mr Marks joked.
“It was a pretty good marketing spin. Will I do it again? Definitely.”
A young family who had missed out on homes in Coburg and Northcote collared the property, and commemorated their purchase by having their photo taken with Skid in front of the sold sign.
“The open (living, dining and kitchen) space with a fireplace was a huge ticket for them, plus the north-facing backyard,” Mr Marks said.
“But most importantly, majority of the buyers who came through were trying to get into that Footscray West Primary School zoning — it’s almost like the Balwyn North High School zoning, everyone’s trying to get in there.”
The owners renovated the house, notably restoring a central fireplace.
The kitchen was modernised during the reno.
Mr Marks said more than 45 groups toured the house in a hectic few days, before physical property inspections were banned during Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.
He doubted many sales would be completed under the harsh restrictions, but said any would-be vendors should use the period to ensure they were ready to “get on the market the moment the lockdown is lifted”.
Ms Baldwin said Skid had become a well-known figure in their neighbourhood during their five years living at 46 Pitt Street.
Skid loved the big backyard.
Skid is friendly, well trained and “loves humans”. Picture: David Caird
“We can’t get down the street without people asking, ‘what sort of dog is that?’” Ms Baldwin said.
“My husband even made up the breed Hungarian muff hound (to tell people) as a joke.
“He’s very friendly, loves humans, and is so well trained.”
She and Mr Ramsey, who works in construction, thoroughly renovated the house, which they shared with daughters Winnie, 13, and Rosie, 11.
This involved restoring original 1920s features — including a brick fireplace Skid had loved sitting in front of — and adding modern comforts.
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