Interior Photos - Yes? No?

[Ross (CO)]

Reading this whole string of posts makes me feel I should regularly take interior shots. My sketch page has copious notes all around the edge with written detail, good and bad, to comment on what I am seeing room by room. I have gone back to car to get the camera on few occasions when the basement has some surprises. Day before yesterday I inspected a modular/ mfd. place, with a detached garage subsequently put up by the h/o. There were no seals around the trim of roll-up door closures and big gaps were clearly visible. Went inside the side door at end to see how it was framed out, saw wide spacing between 2x4's with only thin sheet metal screwed into frame pieces. There was no elctric serving the building so roll-ups are manual, no insulation or interior wall board. With camera still in hand I took an inside shot in garage showing the framing, no g.d.o. I speak about garage quality as it compares to superior garage at two of comps. My HUD tag picture is accompanied by this inside garage pix. Unavoidable in the garage shot is the 4-wheel ATV, a vehichle under cloth cover .....and a brand-spanking new white Cadillac SUV. When setting up the appmt. the woman told me of her long list of credit card debt and 1st and 2nd mortgages and how she plans on consolidating all.....to help cover hubby's medical bills. When driving home I realized that so much debt could be relieved no doubt if that white vehicle were "sold". Now, wondering if my inside garage shot will spark some nerve on "revealing" personal property to the lender which I have "seen". I'll be sending that report off Saturday morning. Anybody ever get comments about revealing personal property unnecessarily ?

 

[Monica (N GA)]

I always take interior photos and put three in my reports. I have never had anyone ask that they be removed. I find it is particularly helpful with stupid UW questions. I recently had this request from an UW "Apprasier states that there is a double oven in the kitchen while borrower states there is none." My response: See interior photos, kitchen view, for a photograph of the double oven.

Monica

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I usually take interior photos so that when I am inspecting 4, 5, or 6 properties in one day, I can recall what the place looks like.

Reports that require interior photos...REO, RELO Appraisals, Repair requirements.

When not to use interior photos...when it might indicate the race or religion of the owners.

I personally think three photos...living room, kitchen, and family room adds to the report and as has been previously mentioned will cover your butt if the property goes into foreclosure and is later in poor condition.

3 pictures equals a lot of typing on an addendum, something I am getting worse and worse at.

 

[Restrain]

Other than REOs (copious photographs) and obvious problems, I do not take interior photographs if it is a typical home for the market. However, I do numerous custom homes, estate properties, etc., so when a home is over $500,000, or unique, I take several interior photographs. It helps show what I am describing in the report ('distressed wood floors', decorative columns, custom kitchen and bath, etc.)

 

[bradellis]

Folks,

Not getting into this in general, but I will make one comment- if you are doing FHA work, DO DO DO take interior photos, AND take photos of any visible condition that you note on the VC forms.

You need not include them in your report- but they will serve you well if HUD claims that you overlooked a repair.

In the recently concluded review program, we had numerous claims by owners- who registered complaints with HUD over the condition of their homes- that the appraiser had overlooked necessary repairs. One appraiser was able to provide the interior shots proving that the claimed conditions were not present as of the date he inspected the home.

Prudence...

Brad Ellis, IFA, RAA