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Why I Use MLS Photos

Why I Use MLS Photos in my Reports

  • I don't have to have original photos

    Votes: 11 18.3%
  • I don't have a camera

    Votes: 12 20.0%
  • I can cut cost and corners on FHA & Fannie Mae

    Votes: 7 11.7%
  • I can't find the properties

    Votes: 10 16.7%
  • I am afraid of the homeowner

    Votes: 12 20.0%
  • It's so much easier and faster

    Votes: 27 45.0%
  • I like the quality of the MLS photo

    Votes: 14 23.3%

  • Total voters
    60
  • Poll closed .
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Terrel L. Shields

Elite Member
Gold Supporting Member
Joined
May 2, 2002
Professional Status
Certified General Appraiser
State
Arkansas
For those of you who "do" MLS pix for your comps

You can choose more than one..
 
A homeowner gave me a copy of a RELS appraisal that was done by non-staff appraiser.

All were MLS photos.

I'm sending it to the board. If they want to cheat and do appraisals for them for 200 bones they can be willing to pay the consequences. Also, the signed name and the appraiser name is also different.

The appraisal was just another bare bones canned appraisal. Are we really that confused as to why the UAD came out? Take a look at a couple of these AMC appraisal reports and it's a no brainer.


Screw them.
 
Delta85's answer to the poll question:

"I forgot my camera and neither the Realtor or homeowner would supply a camera in case I forgot mine like I warned them to. I am not going back to my office for the camera without being paid for the added time and an additional trip fee." :icon_rolleyes:
 
I couldn't vote because the only time I use an MLS photo is if the property is not visible from the street, there are people in the yard/drive, or something is blocking the house (truck, etc).
 
I never use MLS photos and am throughly against MLS photos in an appraisal report, which will have a lot of posters upset with me. But I am old, grouchy, stubborn in my ways and beliefs. So that is my opinion and I am sticking to it. I do admit to using file photos that have been taken in the past one to two months, because I have driven by the comparables quite frequently, as well as having appraised them at some time or other. By the time a property sells, I usually have at least three fairly current photos because I take a photo when it goes on the market, then several times while it is offered for sale and then when it sells. Some of the properties you can see the trees grow and the color of the house change with each new owner. And I do have an advantage over the big city appraisers because I have a small (number wise) market although the distances cover over a fifty mile radius.
 
I was doing a defualt appraisal the other day and here comes the owner with his smart phone and he started taking pics of me and my license plate, so I started taking pics of him...

We were taking photos of one another for about a minute. He was screaming "private property" I was screaming "public street".

I then sped away continuing to take photos. Leason learned. No more default appraisals on the weekend. :)
 
I do it so I can use homes with Christmas lights for reports with an August effective date.
I wish it snowed in Florida, I would sneak a couple of those in August reports.

I just used 2 MLS photos on the last report I just turned in. I had Sgt, Tackleberry manning the guard gate for 2 of my comps. He would not let me in without an appointment. I made sure I took a picture of the guard shack with him leaning out of it.
 
Some scope of work from some of my AMC clients clearly allows for the use of MLS photos as long as you have visually inspected the property. To what extent does visually inspected qualify I am not sure.
 
A homeowner gave me a copy of a RELS appraisal that was done by non-staff appraiser.

All were MLS photos.
And? I know a staff appraiser for RELS that uses them. Are you going to turn her in too?
 
I know that Ohio expects the appraiser to view the comparable for every assignment that they use it on. So if I take a picture today and want to use the same house as a comp in 2 weeks, they expect me to go back and view it again.
 
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