Bedroom photos required. Invasion of privacy?

[Delta85]

HO refusing photos taken of kids rooms can also have something to do with the perverted society we live in. Imagine a middle aged man (appraiser) standing over a kids bed snapping a photo of the room or worse yet while the kid is in bed with covers over his head. Who knows what ghastly shenanigans that picture might be used for.

When you are a parent you think these things all the time and are always on guard.

 

[Michigan CG]

If someone wants someone else to lend them $200,000 to finance their home then maybe they should get lazy little Johnny out of bed when the PROFESSIONAL comes to their home to give an opinion of value.

If the entity lending $200,000 wants a picture of every room they are entitled to a picture of every room, it is their money they are lending. Have you ever seen a "grow room", have you ever seen a 500 gallon oil tank that is 80 years-old?

....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.....

And then they would find the lender that doesn't require a photo of every room. I am guessing that some appraisers have never worked for hard money lenders or even know what a hard money lender is.

.....So prayer rooms and gun closets are off limits?.....

If Haji or the card-carrying NRA member doesn't want photos taken then they can find a lender who doesn't require interior photos.

The political correctness of some people simply amazes me. If you want someone to loan you money then abide by their rules or find another lender.

 

[Frederick]

Photos of kitchens and bathrooms make sense to me as they show the quality and condition of fixtures, appliances and cabinetry which provide a strong indication of the quality and condition of the home and represent the more expensive components of the interior finish.

Bedroom, living room and other pictures show two sheetrock walls and furniture and add very little to the appraisal assignment. These photos are more likely to identify enthicity and religion. I don't think the lender should require them.

That being said, I still shoot all rooms, crawl spaces, basement, attic and heater. I do every appraisal to the standards of my most strick client to avoid going back for things.

If people object I don't shoot the pic and let the lender/AMC deal with it.

One of the best things I started doing in recent years was tape recording the inspection. It keeps borrowers on their best behavior and assures them that I hear everything they have to say about their house. I also have proof of any misrepresentation they make.

 

[Delta85]

If someone wants someone else to lend them $200,000 to finance their home then maybe they should get lazy little Johnny out of bed when the PROFESSIONAL comes to their home to give an opinion of value.

If the entity lending $200,000 wants a picture of every room they are entitled to a picture of every room, it is their money they are lending. Have you ever seen a "grow room", have you ever seen a 500 gallon oil tank that is 80 years-old?



And then they would find the lender that doesn't require a photo of every room. I am guessing that some appraisers have never worked for hard money lenders or even know what a hard money lender is.



If Haji or the card-carrying NRA member doesn't want photos taken then they can find a lender who doesn't require interior photos.

The political correctness of some people simply amazes me. If you want someone to loan you money then abide by their rules or find another lender.

I agree with all that but it's not something appraisers should lose sleep over. If the HO refuses permission to inspect or photo certain rooms or items just comment and move on.

 

[stangtime]

I photograph everything I see. I was hired to be the eyes of the lender, however, if the homeowner asks me not to take a particular picture I won't. In 18 years I've never had that happen. Sometimes a surprised look will be sent my way when I'm taking so many pictures, but never a request to stop. Each report contains at least 22 pictures of the subject alone; it takes maybe five to ten extra minutes per report to put in all of the pictures and label them - I have no problem spending the time to put them in. Strangely, approximately 10 to 12 years ago I was doing some work for a local appraisal office and the owner would always get on my case for including extra pictures, he said it was costing him too much money in ink and to stop doing it!

Dan

 

[Scott R Marshall]

HO refusing photos taken of kids rooms can also have something to do with the perverted society we live in. Imagine a middle aged man (appraiser) standing over a kids bed snapping a photo of the room or worse yet while the kid is in bed with covers over his head. Who knows what ghastly shenanigans that picture might be used for.

When you are a parent you think these things all the time and are always on guard.

Delta85,


I am a parent, with a 7 year old and a 4 year old and I do not think these things all the time. It is one thing to be cautious and it is something else to be paranoid. I think any owner who would think this way over an appraiser doing their job is crossing over into the paranoia realm. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Delta85]

Delta85,


I am a parent, with a 7 year old and a 4 year old and I do not think these things all the time. It is one thing to be cautious and it is something else to be paranoid. I think any owner who would think this way over an appraiser doing their job is crossing over into the paranoia realm. Just my 2 cents.

I agree. But you are one person out of millions. I have a 6 year old son and would not mind if an appraiser took a photo of his room. Others might feel differently.

Some people ARE paranoid. I've approached people to ask permission to take a photo of their home for my reports and, even after explaining what I do and why I need the photo as a comparable they refuse permission. They think I am some government agent or whatever scouting their home for some low reason. Who knows.

 

[Theresa2484]

I think most HO's are concerned with their privacy and their personal property (which has no bearing on my appraisal). On a regular basis, I see things as an appraiser that I shouldn't be privy to - like other people's appraisal reports that were forwarded to me, loan apps that have SS#'s and all sorts of credit info, contracts with SS#'s, and on and on...

And, for ALL of you who don't know what a "hard money lender" is, here you go, from Wikipedia, now you don't have to feel inferior. m2:

Hard money lenders are lending companies offering a specialized type of real-estate backed loan. Hard money lenders provide short-term loans (also called a bridge loan) that provide funding based on the value of real estate that has been collateralized for the loan. Hard money lenders typically have much higher interest rates than banks because they fund deals that do not conform to bank standards.
Hard money lenders will offer a range of requirements on the loan-to-value percentage, type of real estate and minimum loan size for a hard money loan.

 

[Mr Rex]

Just wait until they require photos of every closet in the house! Oh the horror! Lions and tigers and bears!

 

[DonRico]

Fannie's Requirement is Kitchens, All Bathrooms, the Main Living Area, and all examples of Recent Updates, and/or Physical Deterioration. None of that sounds like "Bedrooms".

The requirement for photos of all Bedrooms is Lender Specific, and it had better be spelled out clearly in the Request or the Engagement Letter.

No frantic call from a Junior Processor saying, "We're closing tonight, and the Lender wants photos of all the Bedrooms !!" If it's not plainly stated in the initial request.....it's bogus.

For the record -- I generally don't take bedroom photos unless theres some form of Deterioration, or some recent update (this doesn't mean Fresh Paint).