This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Estate agent photographs can be more shocking, and funnier, than house hunters anticipate.
This is what Andy Donaldson, from Aberdeen, found when he was searching for a new flat in London in 2013. After discovering a host of awful, yet hilarious pictures, Andy set up a blog to show his friends what’s out there.
These genuine online advertisements include a toilet in the utility cupboard, and family pets in the image.
The Tumblr site, however, went viral after receiving 100,000 hits per day.
Andy says: “To begin with, I spent a few hours a week searching for funny or bad images for the blog, but since it went viral, I am now sent pictures from all over the world. I get up to around 100 new images each week, and I have more than 2,000 great images saved for publication.
“The photos I am sent come from websites all over the world, from the UK, US, Canada, across Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and even Kazakhstan.”
He explains the blog’s purpose: “The intention of the blog is not to ridicule individual agents or agencies; it is a difficult job, and everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
“But if an agent wants to complain about their photograph being used on my website, they would have to admit that it was their photograph, and I think the estate agents prefer to remain anonymous.”1
Andy has turned his collection into a book, called Terrible Estate Agent Photos, which sold out in the UK over Christmas. The US version is set for release in April, and Andy is currently compiling a 2016 calendar, which will be available in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some of the best, or worst, images have been selected for your viewing pleasure. Take note!