MLS Comp Photos WTF!

[Brockway]

You have to take your comp photos but I really wish we could just drive by them, especially in certain neighborhoods.

Just yesterday, I took a photo of a comp then pulled in front of the next house to take notes. A guy came running out of his house with a Sheriff's badge and asked if I just took a picture of his house. I did not, it was his neighbors house. He was fine after I explained who I was and handed him my business card but when I told him it was not illegal to take photos from the street he said it was illegal and that he could have me charged with harassment. WTF! If anything, he harrassed me while I was sitting in my car in front if his house. This is not the first time I have been approached about my photos but it is the first time I've been threatened with breaking the law.

If I had a vote, MLS photos would be the norm.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

You have to take your comp photos but I really wish we could just drive by them, especially in certain neighborhoods.

Just yesterday, I took a photo of a comp then pulled in front of the next house to take notes. A guy came running out of his house with a Sheriff's badge and asked if I just took a picture of his house. I did not, it was his neighbors house. He was fine after I explained who I was and handed him my business card but when I told him it was not illegal to take photos from the street he said it was illegal and that he could have me charged with harassment. WTF! If anything, he harrassed me while I was sitting in my car in front if his house. This is not the first time I have been approached about my photos but it is the first time I've been threatened with breaking the law.

If I had a vote, MLS photos would be the norm.

The very reason I have signs on my car. Sure has stopped a lot of the harrassment!

 

[Brockway]

The very reason I have signs on my car. Sure has stopped a lot of the harrassment!

Smart move. I think its time I ordered a car sign. Thanks.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I ordered mine on-line, unfortunately, I can't find the name of the company but they were around $28 a set, bought two sets.

 

[DMZwerg]

I don't know, maybe I'm doing something right... or wrong. On site observation yesterday, never been there before- 4, 399 square feet on 3 above grade levels and full finished basement.

I observed and recorded the finishes in every room including basement, 2 laundry rooms etc. Measured the whole thing including the bluestone patio areas, rear composite deck and the garage roof top deck that it all leads to.

3 levels above grade, huh?
A brownstone maybe?

In other words how self-similar were each level such that you were certain your measurements were all correct?
In some areas a 3-story could literally be a "cookie cutter" depending on layout and similarity in the neighborhood.

Example: A Polish Flat in Milwaukee could be 1-3 levels above grade with a basement floor 1-4 feet below grade but typically each floor is identical in GLA making for a "cookie cutter" if you work in that area of Milwaukee a lot. To somebody who has never worked one before or outside the typical neighborhood it could be complex due to the finish and such of the basement.

 

[DTB]

3 levels above grade, huh?
A brownstone maybe?

In other words how self-similar were each level such that you were certain your measurements were all correct?
In some areas a 3-story could literally be a "cookie cutter" depending on layout and similarity in the neighborhood.

Example: A Polish Flat in Milwaukee could be 1-3 levels above grade with a basement floor 1-4 feet below grade but typically each floor is identical in GLA making for a "cookie cutter" if you work in that area of Milwaukee a lot. To somebody who has never worked one before or outside the typical neighborhood it could be complex due to the finish and such of the basement.

Close, a greystone. So anyone that is familiar with a particular type of property does cookie cutters?

This had 3 identical floors. Each had 23 individual measurements to make and 4300 square feet to observe. ( 2 side bays, a light shaft and the basement without bays) Suddenly that becomes easy for you, yet others take hours of on site work. Fahgetaboutit.

 

[ewwalter]

:new_multi: Gadzooks Batman; it won't stop. Should we run to the bat cave for more power? Good idea Robin but bring your camera, we should probably take some photos just in case we have to prove it exists. :Eyecrazy:

 

[ValuMan]

Personally - MLS comp photos should not be used unless - just by chance - the photo you took fresh of that comp just happens to turn out not as distinct or demonstrative of the home than the MLS photo - (both, you know, representative of a recent photo). Good example would be if your photo caught the sun and is a glared mess of a picture. Even then, I would return to rephoto the house if I happened not to notice it in the digital camera....unless timing was of real essence and the MLS picyure was an excellent representation of a very recent front view.

Be careful. EXAMPLE: We have local MLS photos of properties that have sold and resold, and some lazy Realtors use the first MLS photo ever taken, maybe 6 (+-) years ago, as it looked better and fresher then! Hmmmm.

I have also seen MLS photos in tracts of multiple same old, same old models - and the wrong one was deliberately photographed at the time of its sale, just because the one photographed, (the same model) looked cleaner in front than the actual residence. You get there and find all different landscaping, a red door instead of a green door or desertscape instead of a lawn. Ethically - if you take the photo - you know you were there, you drove by - you can certify the accuracy of your report.

Let's clean up the whole industry by stepping forward as the best appraisers we can be, and and help in shedding those few who make the majority look bad in the eyes of the public.
Short cuts just aren't professional. Leave the unprofessional actions to the people ordering the appraisal. OOOPS!

Ouch, twisted my ankle jumping off the orange crate.

 

[Webbed Feet]

<....snip....>
Let's clean up the whole industry by stepping forward as the best appraisers we can be, and and help in shedding (the many) who make the (minority) look bad in the eyes of the public.

<....snip......>

Notice: The above quote was intentionally distorted into something not posted by the original poster. The alterations appear above in red font. This was done to correct the content to better represent the actual state of affairs in the industry, IMHO of course!

 

[ValuMan]

I fully understand the point, Webbed Feet !

I guess, being a student of eternal optimism, I was hoping the majority were of the higher ethics, painted into a corner by the few miscreants. I Guess I stand corrected! m2: