What do you do when comp owner calls the police for taking photos of her home?

[NC Appraising]

It depends what mood I am in.

Smartass mood:
1. Did you call the police when google or the tax office took a pic of your home? Chill, your home is all over the net.

2. Can I help you? No. And Drive off. That pisses them off.

3. This is a public road, I'll take as many pics as I want.

Normally:

1. If kids are in the yard, I'll use a MLS pic or drive further down the street and take a distance pic of the home without the owner knowing and include both in the appraisal.

2. I had a owner to jump in the car and chase me down. He was pissed but I simply told him who I was and he was ok with it. Protective father.

3. I will wait until they go in or are not looking....quick drive by photo.

The only times that I encounter issues is with kids in the yards. Which is understandable.

PS why is it that everyone else is in the house except for comp photos? Ever noticed that? They are either pulling in the drive or in the front yard? Never fails.

 

[techbiker]

Not an appraiser (I'm a RE investor) but I've had people call the police on me twice for walking around on my own properties! Both times I simply explained the situation to the police and defused things. One time while I was in the street checking out a tax-delinquent property a bunch of homeowners boxed me in and one pointed an AK-47 at me. I explained that I had seen the property on county records and had come to check it out. Apparently the guy thought I said I was "with the county" because he quickly apologized and the entire posse disappeared.

I recently spoke with a retired RoW acquisition manager for the city of Arlington. Apparently he nearly came to blows a few times with disgruntled homeowners. Now I typically drive a retired police vehicle (without any police gear of course!) and most people leave me alone. If I want to avoid talking to people I visit commercial areas during the weekend and residential areas during week days. If no neighbors are around when I'm inspecting an investment property I try to get in and out quickly. If I'm "detected" I act deliberately and purposefully. So far I haven't had to deal with an AK-47 for a couple years.

 

[redfish]

There was once an ABP put out on my vehicle and plate. Someone saw me taking photos of homes, must have followed me, got my info, and then called the police. About three days later I was pulled over for what seemed like no reason at all. The police officer told me that they had been looking for my car and the system had instructions to pull it over if spotted.

 

[Bob Ipock]

If you are on a public street, you can take pictures of anything you like. That is a legal right. If someone is upset, your legal rights won't mean much to them. Some cops will know the law and some will not.