Using MLS Photos

[sailorboy]

I just sent this comment to one of my clients that posted a bulletin about using MLS photos.

"I received your notice about MLS photos. I understand the requirements of FHA, FNMA, etc. about original comp photos. No one has discussed the issue of people in the yard. When the weather is nice here, everyone is out, which makes taking unobstructed photos difficult to impossible. I say impossible because I will NOT take a photo when someone is visible, especially when it is children. You may say that people can be edited out of the photo and that is true. The issue is taking the photo in the first place. If I do see an adult in the yard, I often approached them with a request to take a photo explaining that this will be happening for the next 6 months. The logic I use is that an appraiser had to take photos for their appraisal when they bought the home and now it is their turn. Most of the time this works and they are glad to talk about the home they just purchased. I have run into issues with homeowners in the past when I accidentally took a photo as a kid just ran out of a home at the same instant I took the photo. I have even been threatened with a gun and stopped by the police because a homeowner reported me taking photos. The camera I use has a 15-300 zoom on a DSLR so being discrete is not the issue. I will not take a photo when any person is in the yard regardless of what the requirements say. If you have a issue with this, please contact me. I always explain the situation in the report so there is no question as to why the MLS photo was used. I have no issue with taking photos of no trespassing signs or gated drives. There will be no original photos in my reports if there is anyone present in the yard, ever."

I was wondering what others do in this situation.

 

[Michigan CG]

Why would you pick a fight with a client over this? It is not like this is something that happens often. I think I can remember once last year when I couldn't get a photo of the comp because of kids. I do residential, commercial and farm so triple that number and maybe it is an issue three times a year?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Is this Washington DC or what? Sounds like it. I've photographed property for 25 years and rarely have an issue... And I shoot through the windshield if necessary - the tint can easily be removed and a circular Polarizer works fine to prevent glare. As for people in the yard, - mid day week days? *(&^ few of them are going to have people in the yard, summer or winter. Sounds more like lazy to me...

 

[JTip]

Is it too late to hit the 'delete message' button?

 

[Riick]

No one must give you permission to take a photos of a home from the public street.
Put your camera in movie/video mode, the focus on infinity, and maybe set it a little wide-angle.
Now, hold camera lens flush against your side window, and drive so the comp is on your left as you go by.
You are now invisible; no one is going to realize you're taking photos/video, no one is going to chase you.
Back in your office, choose the frame you like best in the video, edit out any people, and put photo in your report.
(I cut people out, leaving a nice solid-black rectangle; anyone can see the photo *is* edited, and guess why)

.

 

[bnmappraisal]

No one must give you permission to take a photos of a home from the public street.

This is true, but I have been chased down by homeowners (who were NOT outside at the time I took the photo) who basically blocked my car in (multiple times) and then asked WHY was I taking pics of their house. Granted, as MCG mentioned, these are rare cases compared to the total number of properties I see in a year, but have happened. I've always been able to explain my way out of it, as it was obviously LEGIT and what we have to do in our profession.
Thankfully this next quote hasn't happened to me yet (knock on wood)

I have even been threatened with a gun

But I have driven toward a property before and it was "subtly" proven/ to me that people with weapons were watching my move. I was never directly threatened, but I knew I had to watch my "P's and Q's" while doing my job

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Not a hill I want to die on.

 

[CANative]

Take a picture of a street sign or intersection nearby and include that along with the MLS Photo.

 

[bnmappraisal]

Take a picture of a street sign or intersection nearby and include that along with the MLS Photo.

I would definitely lean toward the intersection part b/c here in St Pete, it's a grid system. 4th St is a LOOOOOOOOOOONG street

 

[jay trotta]

Always was of the Opinion, if the Sale Date is important; the property characteristics are important; the zoning is important; why is the actual MLS photo the date of the Offering & Sale Not important ??
Never quite understood the big issue with photo's; most areas I work in are of trees / shrubs, some houses, but most often I am adding the MLS photos into the report; in my opinion tampering with a photo, well if you can delete people & other items, and you could also add various other things; could that be misleading ??

Ohh I remember, its to make sure you little rascals drive the neighborhoods;