Comp Photos

[Deleted member 128537]

I had one lender that wanted photos as of the date of the appraisal. I told them to forget it. I'm not going to waste my time taking photos of properties I already have taken. I live in a rural area. I would have to charge them an extra $200 per report to do that. They quickly dropped the request. I take my own photos (unless I can't see the house from the road). In fact sometimes I even drive down driveways if the MLS photo stinks. Thankfully my area is mostly second home recreational.

I will say that as appraisers we talk to each other and if we have seasonal photos we share them. We constantly ask each other for seasonal photos. I even email my fellow appraiser photos if you have to drive down the private drive and can't see from road or MLS photo stinks. I just love it when realtors can't take a decent photo of the house, and then I can't see it from the road. Pet peeve.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

The cheese has been moved. It's probably evident to most that the residential appraising world is not what it used to be, and the GSEs and lenders are increasingly dictating how seemingly irrelevant portions of appraisals are to be done and reported. While some of these requirements are the result of self inflicted wounds (some appraisers never inspecting their comps, causing lenders to ramp up their requirements for comp photos) some are just stupid (comp photos to be taken after the assignment or appraisal date). Since relationships between appraisers and users of their product are increasingly "standoffish", it's increasingly important to read and understand engagement agreements, and to price up to reflect the additional services at the beginning of the assignment, not argue about them when the report is delivered.

 

[TRESinc]

Oh come on.

They can't resell MLS photos because the BOR will sue for copyright infringement. They want appraiser photos because they know appraisers don't have the hutzpah to sue them.

easy enough to solve - add a watermark with your company name.

 

[Gregory Beck]

What is the deal with comp photos? My client states no MLS photos. Fine. However, they never stated it had to be same time as the effective date of appraisal. Is it assumed it is? I have data base of comp photos and I like to reuse them. The lender would never know except if the weather condition is different from my appraisal date. Sometimes, if the comp is not too far, I retake the photo but I don't really want to. Has any appraisal been called out for comp photos not being same time as appraisal date?

Scope of work states original photos to be supplied by appraiser that's it go take the photos. Or else you lied

 

[residentialguy]

I routinely take photos of houses with a Realtor's sign in the yard when I'm out doing other things, particularly when I'm in lightly developed or rural areas.

Get a life, man!