Using MLS Photos

[sailorboy]

I am in WA state. With our weather, most of the time there is no issue with people being out. It is the nice days where everyone is outside any time of the day. This is not a regular issue because most of my work is rural rather than in the neighborhoods. My issue has been a client that has demanded that I take original photos even if there are kids playing in the yard and simply block them out. I like the idea of taking a photo of the street sign. I may be too cautious but have been doing this for 25 years with no issues with homeowners until recently. Lazy, not sure how that even relates to this situation.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I've driven 15 miles only to find teenagers sunbathing in the yard, I went back the next day. IF I certify originals, you get originals.

 

[sailorboy]

Terrel, I'm not sure what you mean by certifying the originals. I am certifying that I have looked at the comparables but not certifying that they are original. Anytime a photo is not original, it is explained. This has become a regular issue during the good weather months in my area (three months). Until just this week, no lender has ever questioned why I did not take a photo. All of a sudden a client I have been working with for several years on a regular basis is asking me to make a 1.5 hour trip back to a comparable to get an original photo. I may end up doing this just to keep them but this comes along with a recent exponential increase in scope creep and stips that are irrelevant to quality and credibility. I felt I had to take a stand on something that had the potential to put me in a dangerous situation. I take trips down private driveways in the rural areas I work every single day to see the comps and take the photos. I draw the line at taking any photo with a person in it. It has nothing to do with possibly having a person in a photo in a report. It is the act of taking that photo that I will not do. Guess I might lose clients over this but I should not have to even be in a potentially dangerous situation. This is unrelated but just today I was in a home that is being sold. Called the seller to let him know that I was going to be by and could let myself in with MLS key if he was ok with it. He told me that his brother was in the home and would let him know. Knocked on the door and no one answered. Let myself in an ran into the brother just walking out of the bedroom. No issue there but when I finished up there were three unmarked police cars down the block. One stopped me and questioned me about being in the home. Explained the situation and he brought out some photos for identification. Turns out the brother was wanted for murder out of state and they were there to arrest him. Had to explain the layout of the home and exactly where he was. Kind of shook me up thinking I could have been shot entering the home or even taken hostage. This profession is not as safe as it was or as safe as we think it is.

 

[miktay]

We all have this same issue, and as somebody who has done this for over a quarter century, I can tell you that this is not a big deal. Typically, I'm doing this in the middle of the day during the workweek so most people are at school or work. But there are times when people are out front or working in the garage and you need a photo of the house. I NEVER get out of my car and discuss what I'm doing with them. Instead, I very discreetly point the camera toward the house. I don't look at the house, I look at the viewfinder. When the house is centered in the viewfinder I snap the photo. With my foot already on the gas I slowly pull away and I typically shoot a second photo at a slight angle just in case my first photo does not turn out. All this time I am slowly driving away and there is no time for them to come out and start asking questions. I probably get people running out to the street maybe once or twice a year, but it's too late because I'm already driving away. I don't stop to make chitchat with them, I just drive on. Being very very DISCREET is the key to success.

 

[Vermonter]

In a rural area, you have to use MLS pics quite often. Mainly due to obstructed view from the public right of way but occasionally due to people in the yard. Probably better than half my assignments will have at least one obstructed comp. Other assignments it's ALL comps. I take the obstructed view pic (or if people in the yard, the street in front, mailbox, etc) and keep it in the workfile. State in the addendum which pics are MLS, the reason why it was used and that I did inspect the comparable location. Never had a client even question it.

 

[Proactive]

I had my front windows tinted with AFC 30% film. When taking comp photos, if someone is in the yard, I shoot through the window ('cause I'm invisible don't cha know). Later, the offending carbon units are blurred out.

If an MLS photo is used, both the appraiser-taken photo and MLS photo are included in the report, with an explanation.

 

[Peter LeQuire]

If an MLS photo is used, both the appraiser-taken photo and MLS photo are included in the report, with an explanation.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Alamode has a blur button where you can blur out any object on a photo. Buy Alamode next time.

 

[CANative]

I've driven 15 miles only to find teenagers sunbathing in the yard, I went back the next day.

 

[Tom D]

Let myself in an ran into the brother just walking out of the bedroom. No issue there but when I finished up there were three unmarked police cars down the block. Turns out the brother was wanted for murder out of state and they were there to arrest him. .

that story is the best i've heard. better than when i stop to take a photo and a young business man runs up to the window to sell his produce. or the he/she hooker giving me a friendly smile. i go down some city streets that are so narrow that i could knock on the front door without getting out my car. always prepared to zoom off. city is better in the morning for comp photos. wide angle and zoom works urban or suburban pretty safely. with the back screen on the camera you can put the lens in the bottom corner of the window under your arm, and clip a photo. i've noticed that google street have some fine photos of houses on the street & the street view also. just noticed that, new feature in our MLS.