FHA Photo Requirements

[glenn walker]

YUP YOU ARE : ) LOL

 

[Amy Perkins]

I agree, it is a "power tripper" Just remember any FHA report includes power trips and you should charge accordingly! I always think oh it's not that much more work, but it always is!

 

[bnmappraisal]

because I am afraid of getting screwed around by FHA. That's why I started the thread.

Yes, It sucks! I definitely don't blame you nor disagree. But I agree with other posters that you "need" a front pic of the garage (door closed or not) but a front pic.
I've been distracted by homeowners/agents before and have "forgotten" a pic ... and yes, again ... IT SUCKS!

 

[Deleted member 128537]

I have forgotten photo on a house a few times. I have asked the homeowner to text it to me. It would have taken me a half hour to mess with it. The homeowner had no problem with it, and I saved a ton of time. It would be different if I had not personally inspected the house and the homeowner sent me a photo, but if I inspected it, and I know this is what the house looked like; no big deal. And I have to admit on one occasion I lifted an interior photo from the MLS. Homeowner was talking to me and I forgot to take it due to distraction. But again I inspected the house and knew that the picture was a correct representation. But there are those occasion where I've had to go back, and that really sucks. that's why I DO NOT like the homeowner following me around, because 90% of the time it is because they take me out of my normal workflow, and I get distracted.

 

[Louis Hemmi]

Anyone have experience with my situation? I did an FHA refinance appraisal, and the lender has been told by FHA that they need a photo of the front of the garage. I don't have one. I forgot to take one because I got the borrower to open the garage for a photo of the interior, so I took that photo and forgot to take another one outside it. I have photos of the back and side of the garage, but not the front.

It isn't required according to the handbook. P. 513 here : https://portal.HUD.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=40001HSGH.pdf

There is nothing remarkable about the front of the garage, and my report doesn't suggest there is. I think this is someone at FHA who hasn't read their own handbook and nothing more, but what would you all do?

My position is that I also didn't take any pictures of the hallway or the borrowers' favorite socks and I wouldn't go back for those, either. Can I expect some kind of reprisal from FHA? I don't care about the lender being mad. Does an FHA "requirement" have to be satisfied even if it isn't included in the handbook?

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I sympathize with you. The fact is that the business model doesn't value the appraiser's time, so there's no incentive for clients to accept fewer pictures than they want. If they were paying for them, their objections would quickly evaporate. If this is a typical suburban setting, and you've shown the house and garage interior, it is simply a trivial technicality, but the client's engagement letter/requirements can pretty much negate any common sense; it's then a matter of contract, not FHA guidelines.

 

[444nutman]

So on our comp photos, do I need to stop and ask the owner to close the garage door so I can get a photo of the garage door as well or if the garage door is open, I can not give the comps garage any value?

I am confused here.
Do you have a front photo of the house but the garage door is open? Is it a detached garage and you have a rear, side and interior but they want a front photo of the garage with the door down?

Funny story, I was appraising a home that was worth 2.5 million, and the owner was laughing at me for having to take a photo of the water running and his smoke alarms. Even funnier is the owner is an NBA player.
He was like, I guess they don't trust you.

 

[Louis Hemmi]

So on our comp photos, do I need to stop and ask the owner to close the garage door so I can get a photo of the garage door as well or if the garage door is open, I can not give the comps garage any value?

I am confused here.
Do you have a front photo of the house but the garage door is open? Is it a detached garage and you have a rear, side and interior but they want a front photo of the garage with the door down?

Funny story, I was appraising a home that was worth 2.5 million, and the owner was laughing at me for having to take a photo of the water running and his smoke alarms. Even funnier is the owner is an NBA player.
He was like, I guess they don't trust you.

Common sense is a rare thing when it comes to people who need everything condensed into rules so they don't have to think. They want artificial intelligence in the long run to replace people, so each and every action must be codified as a rule to either apply or not.

 

[mp2277]

"Thank you for your request for the exterior front pic of the garage, I am happy to comply. I will next be in the area in approximately two weeks and will be happy to personally take the photo then, best regards, Yours Truly." Watch how fast the request disappears. LOL

 

[timd354]

"Thank you for your request for the exterior front pic of the garage, I am happy to comply. I will next be in the area in approximately two weeks and will be happy to personally take the photo then, best regards, Yours Truly." Watch how fast the request disappears. LOL

The request is not going to disappear because the issue was identified by the FHA itself, not the lender. Any appraiser who is stupid enough not to immediately fix an error that the FHA identified should not complain if the FHA starts reviewing all of that appraiser's work and/or ends up sanctioning the appraiser

 

[Ken Masla]

because I am afraid of getting screwed around by FHA. That's why I started the thread.

I know from experience the HUD branch chief appraiser in my area is a reasonable person.

They are not going to screw you over for just a exterior garage pic.