No more MLS Photos

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I would strongly urge those who have problems when taking comp photos to consider the use of magnetic car signs. Have had very few, almost none, problems in that area and I believe it is because of my car signs.

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

Have been called a pervert for taking a picture of a home with kids across the street and not even on the property and the police coming to my door asking me what I was doing.
Have had an owner come out on his porch with a gun as I tried getting a rural comp pic...
In these economic times and with a pro-gun "and willing to use it" mentality especially in rural areas I refuse to take comp photos.
Of course our illustrious leaders who only know Washington D.C./New York/Dallas/etc never give any thought to anything outside their myopic little realm.
I'm still waiting for them to remove the box for effective age and window type from the 2055....

You should probably avoid taking photos with children in them, unless you're willing to explain to someone (the police or a property owner) what you're up to. That's just the world in which we live.

On the occasions when people are present at the comp you wish to photograph, look at it as an opportunity to give them your business card, explain what you are doing, and ask if you can take a photo of the house.

This is one of the best methods ever of comp verification. There may be occasions in bad neighborhoods when I might advise otherwise, (mostly when the people present appear to be teenage gang members).

I have not been denied information or the permission to photograph the comp in this situation ever.

I agree. It's not reasonable to expect appraisers to risk their lives, risk arrest, or risk damage to their car simply to get a comp photo.

While I always drive by the comp to see it for myself I only take a photo if I feel comfortable. I put comments in my report that if I feel it was impossible (long driveway, gated community, trees in the way) to take a photo or if I feel it was inappropriate to take a photo (people in the photo especially kids, high crime areas, etc.) then I will use an online or MLS photo if available.

OTOH, it is common courtesy to stop and ask permission to take a photo in such a situation. If kids are home, you also know that adults are likely there also with whom you can verify other details of the sale.

Our due diligence requires that we inspect the comp from at least the street. If we drive the comp and find it behind a gated community or a long driveway we have satisfied our due diligence in that we attempted to see the property and have, in a way, inspected from the street as best we could.

From there we can assume based on conversations with the realtor, MLS notes, and assessor info the condition and details of the home are accurate.

There is no reason NOT to use a good comp simply due to not being able to see it from the street.

What do you suppose people with long driveways do when someone pulls up the drive to their house by accident because of a wrong address or bad directions? Shoot them? Call the police?

Again, long driveways are an invitation to drive up, knock on the door, present your card and ask questions.

Appraisers are some of the biggest wussies. Most people are pretty cool with verifying info, especially when asked for their help.

 

[George Ellerman]

I just tell people I'm the advance man for Publisher's Clearing House and I have to verify addresses on the street !

 

[Doug Meyer]

My opinion is that any photo or data taken from the MLS site is considered "MLS".

When I reference in my reports other data in the system provided by agents I still call it "MLS data".

Actually Mark it is BLC data...Broker Listing Coop! We are not to call it "MLS data" per our agreement with the Board.

 

[Vermonter]

What do you suppose people with long driveways do when someone pulls up the drive to their house by accident because of a wrong address or bad directions? Shoot them? Call the police?

Again, long driveways are an invitation to drive up, knock on the door, present your card and ask questions.

Appraisers are some of the biggest wussies. Most people are pretty cool with verifying info, especially when asked for their help.

And that works until you run into someone that isn't cool with it. Being an appraiser doesn't give you the right to break the law. I suggest everyone know trespass laws in your area and follow them to the letter.

I do not trespass...period. It has nothing to do with courage, it has to do with breaking the law.

 

[Delta85]

What do you suppose people with long driveways do when someone pulls up the drive to their house by accident because of a wrong address or bad directions? Shoot them? Call the police?

Again, long driveways are an invitation to drive up, knock on the door, present your card and ask questions.

Appraisers are some of the biggest wussies. Most people are pretty cool with verifying info, especially when asked for their help.

What a silly post. Our due diligence does not require us to become private detectives or to trespass or to even put ourselves into a position of having to ask permission and speak to homeowners when inspecting comps.

What happens if you drive up a long driveway and nobody is home? You gonna snap the picture anyways? Then what happens when you find out they were home and just did not want to answer the door, saw you take a picture on their private property, got your license #, called police and prosectuted you for trespassing?

All to get a photo and look at a comp? Please.

 

[Delta85]

On the occasions when people are present at the comp you wish to photograph, look at it as an opportunity to give them your business card, explain what you are doing, and ask if you can take a photo of the house.

In many high crime areas people outside is a reason to hit the gas pedal, not stop and attempt conversation.

There have been times, when I feel safe, I might stop and ask a homeowner a question or request a photo. I've run into some rude people who have said no. I've had people get downright violent over it ("Get the F out of here!") Who needs the hassle and potential risk?

To be fair I've also run into a few nice people who were helpful but again, who needs the risk? I don't think our due diligence requires us to put ourselves in that situation.

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

And that works until you run into someone that isn't cool with it. Being an appraiser doesn't give you the right to break the law. I suggest everyone know trespass laws in your area and follow them to the letter.

I do not trespass...period. It has nothing to do with courage, it has to do with breaking the law.

It is not against the law to knock on someone's door to verify information. You are not selling, so you don't need a peddler's license. You are appraising, an activity for which the state has given you license.

In that circumstance, I defy you to demonstrate where a court anywhere in this country has held such activity to be trespass!

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

What a silly post. Our due diligence does not require us to become private detectives or to trespass or to even put ourselves into a permission of having to ask permission and speak to homeowners when inspecting comps.

What happens if you drive up a long driveway and nobody is home? You gonna snap the picture anyways? Then what happens when you find out they were home and just did not want to answer the door, saw you take a picture on their private property, got your license #, called police and prosectuted you for trespassing?

All to get a photo and look at a comp? Please.

See my other response regarding this activity. I'm not an attorney, but there is a fine line between illegal and legal trespass. For instance, meter readers don't ask for permission. Utility repair crews or surveyors either, even when "trespassing" on property other that than for which they are engaged.

How come? Because states, communities, and courts realize that there exist occasions which require such unfettered access. Knocking on someone's door to verify information is not illegal, especially in performance of an activity for which you are licensed by the state.

Once again you and I seem to have little in common. I would never advocate for someone to do anything for which they felt unsafe or otherwise at risk of life or limb. That said, many are simply too afraid to be nosy and ask total strangers questions, either because they've never been trained to do so, or because they believe it to be none of their business. What are these people even doing in this business?

It is the nature of this job to be inquisitive, to ask pointed questions at times, to engage total strangers, even those who appear different from us.

Again, appraisers are such wussies. Asking permission to take pictures is merely a way of being polite, a practice that most people appreciate and are tolerant of.

If one finds much hostility doing such verifications, they should work on their people skills.

PS. 38 years in this business and I've never once heard of someone being charged, let alone convicted or fined for trespass when performing an appraisal. Yet this group of cackling hens worries about it as though it's a frequent occurrence. My advice is to worry about things that really do happen and can actually hurt your careers and business, like being found negligent in the verification of your comp data, for instance.

 

[BRCJR]

And that works until you run into someone that isn't cool with it. Being an appraiser doesn't give you the right to break the law. I suggest everyone know trespass laws in your area and follow them to the letter.

I do not trespass...period. It has nothing to do with courage, it has to do with breaking the law.

You are not trespassing unless it is posted or you are asked to leave and you do not.