Bedroom photos required. Invasion of privacy?

[Fritz in NY]

I take a pix of every room, click, click , click. I don't ask permission. I have to open every door. It's my license on the line and I want it documented what I saw.
Ever see a bedroom door padlocked? Teenager, gun collection, meth lab???? What do you do then?

 

[Vermonter]

I agree with setting proper expectations during the appointment set.

You can also tell the person that if there's anything specific they would like not photographed to just speak up and we'll figure out a work around.

Been doing this for years. Had one local credit union that required photos of every room, basements, HVAC, oil tanks, etc. They had a laundry list long before the rest started doing it.

At initial contact I make sure the borrower knows EXACTLY what will be photographed and if they have a problem, contact their lender and the lender will instruct me. Haven't had a problem since.

I think it's a stupid requirement, but I'm not the one doing the lending.

 

[Tom Woolford]

I take a pix of every room, click, click , click. I don't ask permission. I have to open every door. It's my license on the line and I want it documented what I saw.
Ever see a bedroom door padlocked? Teenager, gun collection, meth lab???? What do you do then?

Teenagers; I tell the owner to have them cover up head to toe, and take the picture. Gun rooms, I respect his privacy and label it a closet. Meth labs, I run like hell. Other than that, if I can see it, it gets photographed. Its my proof of inspection and condition. I read above where it was said that owners have refused photography. I've been taking full photos since the early 90's and never had an owner refuse to let me take the pictures. Maybe I just have one of those trusting faces

 

[TC]

Too bad so many peers can't be trusted or we wouldn't be where we are now, huh?

On that note, we agree. Might be the first time.

 

[Bob Ipock]

I have recently added 3 more pictures to every report. Disposal (under sink), attic access (scuttle or drop stairs) and the crawl space door (or any other under house exterior entrance).

If nothing else these show that I made an effort to locate these items and photograph them. It shows a thought process. It can't prove I did this or that but it does prove I located and photographed.

These are photos to protect me......not the home-owner.

 

[Elliott]

So prayer rooms and gun closets are off limits? Anything else?

It always comforts me to know there are more than enough people
who would where a brown shirt if only asked to. :~ 0

 

[Smokey Bear]

I've taken many photos of teen's rooms with the teen in bed and the covers pulled over their head. The kid can sleep til noon and I have my picture. I don't see how it's an invasion of privacy to take a picture of the kid's room. Frankly, the kid only has the privacy the parent allows anyway, which, if the kid is a problem, could include no door to their room.

 

[Theresa2484]

I think parents are concerned that someone in the public will now know exactly where the kid sleeps and someone's going to come in and steal the little bugger.

I've had numerous requests NOT to take pics of kids' rooms, along with master bedrooms and pics of expensive art, for example. I just note what I see, what the HO asks me NOT to do, report it and move on. Not my problem.

 

[Theresa2484]

Just wanted to add that I think a HO has every right to refuse any picture. As an appraiser, I respect their privacy, note it and report it. If the client/lender has a problem with it, they can hash it out with the HO, not me. And if they come to the conclusion that the picture IS necessary, then I go back (for another fee).

 

[Smokey Bear]

Um, the kid usually sleeps in the bed. Which is usually in a bedroom. If someone wants to snatch a kid from bed (which is very, very rare), they'll watch the house first, or break in and investigate.