Bedroom photos required. Invasion of privacy?

[Delta85]

What makes the bedroom so special? If you are of the invasion of privacy attitude, well the entire appraisal process is an invasion of privacy, why draw the line at the bedroom ??? If they want to get a home loan from any particular bank, then the lender has the right to see what they need to see with the home. Now if the child is in the room at the time, that is different, but we already know not to include pictures of people, so what is the BFD of any vacant room picture.

I agree. But it does not matter what WE think. If the HO has an issue with it it ends there. We can't argue with them or insist. Let them work it out with their lender.

 

[residentialguy]

One time a homeowner didn't want to have a photo taken of a bedroom because it was filled with junk.

I told him not to worry...I wouldn't base the appraisal on his junk. After looking at the expression on his face, I realized that came out wrong.

 

[Smokey Bear]

But I'd be just as liable for not getting the inside of the garage too right?

You don't photograph the inside of the garage?????

 

[Delta85]

You don't photograph the inside of the garage?????

No. Not unless it is peculiar or in horrible shape or finished or some similar reason. Do you? Do you photograph unfinished basements from every angle? Or an entire vinyl fence?

 

[Michigan CG]

No. Not unless it is peculiar or in horrible shape or finished or some similar reason. Do you? Do you photograph unfinished basements from every angle? Or an entire vinyl fence?

The price of digital film processing is very low now-a-days. :mellow: The time to include 30 pictures is minimal. We include pictures of every room, every angle of the exterior, two street photos, the garage interior, and more if we have them. It takes very little time.

We write every report as if it is FHA so that if it converts there is little additional time to change the report.

I have a theory of working smarter, and stips take time. The interior of a garage photo takes about 30 seconds to put into a report. The best thing is that I don't do it, my assistant does.

 

[Delta85]

The price of digital film processing is very low now-a-days. :mellow: The time to include 30 pictures is minimal. We include pictures of every room, every angle of the exterior, two street photos, the garage interior, and more if we have them. It takes very little time.

We write every report as if it is FHA so that if it converts there is little additional time to change the report.

I have a theory of working smarter, and stips take time. The interior of a garage photo takes about 30 seconds to put into a report. The best thing is that I don't do it, my assistant does.

I purposely do NOT do my conventional inspections as though they were FHA specifically so that if they convert to FHA I have to go back and reinspect and can charge an additional fee. Why pass up an additional fee?

As for the photos I don't disagree that more is better. I'm just playing devils advocate by saying you'd have to have photos of every inch of the property from every angle to truely protect yourself if liability is a concern. So you photograph the inside of the garage and that's great. But do you photograph the entire driveway and the unfinished basement from every angle? Do you take several shots of the kitchen showing each wall? Do you get every closet? Do you photograph the toilet, sink, and tub in every bathroom shot? How many angles of the attic do you get? How about the hallway itself?

When does it become overkill?

 

[Michigan CG]

I purposely do NOT do my conventional inspections as though they were FHA specifically so that if they convert to FHA I have to go back and reinspect and can charge an additional fee. Why pass up an additional fee?.......

Is the additional fee to prepare for another inspection (put on "inspection clothes", get the file out again, etc), do inspection and then rewrite report worth some inspection fee? Two hours of my time is not worth $75 when it typically turns in to three hours of lost productivity.

As for photos, put them all in. It takes no time and makes your report look more thorough. I know your goal is more private party work. Quality, or the appearance of quality sells. You never know who will be looking at the report.

We have $5,000 in non lender work right now.....quality works, write all reports with thorough detail and the non-lender work will come over time.

 

[Delta85]

Is the additional fee to prepare for another inspection (put on "inspection clothes", get the file out again, etc), do inspection and then rewrite report worth some inspection fee? Two hours of my time is not worth $75 when it typically turns in to three hours of lost productivity.

As for photos, put them all in. It takes no time and makes your report look more thorough. I know your goal is more private party work. Quality, or the appearance of quality sells. You never know who will be looking at the report.

We have $5,000 in non lender work right now.....quality works, write all reports with thorough detail and the non-lender work will come over time.

Well I charge $100 to go back out and it usually is just a matter of a few additional steps to comply with FHA requirements. For me it's a business decision to maximize the income potential. Most of the jobs I do are fairly close to my office so it's not a big deal to go back out and pick up the extra $100 rather than spend the initial extra time at the conventional inspection meeting FHA requirements JUST IN CASE it converts later on.

I agree about the photos I'm just playing devils advocate as I said before. If you are putting 30-40 photos in ALL of your reports that's great. But unless you have shots of every inch of the property from every angle and you get questioned about something you do not have a photo to back up you are just as liable as if you have only 10. Of all the appraisals I've seen the only time I have seen reports with 30-40 photos is when there is significant remodeling, significant damage, or a complex property. Average reports, from what I've seen, have maybe 10-12 photos max not counting comp pics and or FHA reports.

I guess my real point is that you can never totally insulate yourself from liability on this issue UNLESS you have every inch of the property covered in the report in picture form. How many appraisers include photos of the AC unit, hot water heater, electrical box, and oil tank in EVERY report? Do you?

As professionals we provide enough photos to give the reader an idea of the style and condition of the home and to point out significant renovations or deterioration. I'd hate to think we can't make a comment on anything in the report unless we have a photo to back it up, especially if it is minor and common stuff being mentioned.

 

[Gregory Beck]

Can't Take The Picture

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?

Padlocked Many times I look inside from the outer window if I can. otherwise move on don't take the picture I am not going back

 

[KenAZ]

Unfortunately there are too many new appraisers that think that the appraisal process is all about how many phtos and how well you "Cov er" yourself in case of a lawsuit or board letter.

Never ONCE have I seen in this thread a concern as to whether the value that is being obtained is reliable. That actually seems to be a common theme in most of the discussions on this board.

We need to get back to the basics. Did we get the best comparables. Did we accurately measure the house. Is the home in average condition?

All this other "Feel Good" stuff that is being required by clients is only a distraction. The first priority is an accurate value.

The number of photos, a color sketch, extra comps, extra listings, etc, does not make the appraisal better, but it does make an inadequate appraiser feel better because they followed the requirements and did not get a stip.

Unfortunately for everyone, Skippy also knows how to get an appraisal through a review, provide multiple photos and add extra comps, and make the report 50 pages with canned statements.