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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Taking pics at open houses / showings
DH and I have taken a lot of pictures of houses that we see. Although one realtor chuckled at us, no homeowner or realtor has objected up till today.
It really helps to get pictures when you visit three houses in one day, and to get the nitty gritty details of the rooms later. Cracks, finishing work needed, etc. So many times, we see things in pictures that we didn't notice the first time. Not to mention, how many times do you really get a good look at a house before you buy it?
So we went to an Open House today and when we asked the realtor (nicely, always nicely) if we could take some photographs, she had this annoyed tone to her voice and said, "I don't think the homeowners would appreciate that." Ok. That's why we asked, a simple "No, I'm sorry." would have sufficed.
Then she made us wait outside while she showed someone else the house. I suppose she didn't trust us to be inside the home alone.
So we get into the house... and it's empty! Not a piece of furniture anywhere. So, what was the point of not allowing pictures? I mean, if you don't want pictures of your closets and personal belongings, I totally understand. But it's empty.
What, are they afraid we're going to put the pictures on the internet so people can come rob the house of their crappy old kitchen appliances? 
The realtor also wanted us to sign that disclosure statement that she's working for the seller, not the buyer. I told her if we decide to put in an offer, I'll sign it then.
From then on, she was very brusque and rushed us through the house.
Do you take pictures? Have you ever been met with attitude when asking? Do you think it's an invasion of people's privacy even though you're physically touring someone's house anyway?
Message edited 8/19/2007 4:58:44 PM.
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Posted 8/19/07 4:58 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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luckyinlove
I love my baby girls!
Member since 12/06 2441 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
That is ridiculous. We looked at so many houses before we bought our house, and if a real estate agent gave us any attitude whatsoever, we immediately walked out. That disclosure form is a load of bs too. Only some of them make you sign it, but if it was a law, like some of them claim, wouldn't all agents make you sign it? I don't feel comfortable signing anything without reading it carefully first. Good luck on your house hunt!
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| Posted 8/19/07 5:11 PM |
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Tine73
Member since 3/06 22093 total posts
Name:
*********
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
I have never taken pictures at an open house, only during the inspections.
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| Posted 8/19/07 5:59 PM |
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alnem
This is gonna be a good year!
Member since 2/06 9562 total posts
Name:
Emily
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
Posted by luckyinlove
That is ridiculous. We looked at so many houses before we bought our house, and if a real estate agent gave us any attitude whatsoever, we immediately walked out. That disclosure form is a load of bs too. Only some of them make you sign it, but if it was a law, like some of them claim, wouldn't all agents make you sign it? I don't feel comfortable signing anything without reading it carefully first. Good luck on your house hunt!
its not bs....agency disclosures are REQUIRED by law to be signed at the first substantive meeting. meaning, you ask the realtor a question about the house and they HAVE to show you the disclosure and explain it to you so that there's no confusion as to who they work for. its in the buyers best interest that it be disclosed. when a realtor DOESNT show it to you or ask you to sign it, THEY are the ones breaking the law. you can say "i prefer not to sign anything" thats fine but they have to fill out a different form with your info that gets sent to the dept of state.
eta: with regard to taking pictures, some sellers prefer to not have pictures taken of their home. there was probably a nicer way for her to say it but maybe she was just following the sellers instructions. i for one suggest that my buyers take pics but ONLY if they are interested in the house. usuallly at a 2nd showing or at the inspection.
Message edited 8/19/2007 6:20:55 PM.
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| Posted 8/19/07 6:18 PM |
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counselor74
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/07 806 total posts
Name:
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
DH and I took pics of many houses during our search. Most times it was no problem at all. We found it very helpful because we looked a so many houses.
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| Posted 8/19/07 7:31 PM |
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
We asked (about taking photos) once a long time ago and the realtor gave us a very long and condescending speech about why it's inappropriate. 
I'm SO happy and thankful that I didn't have to go through a realtor to buy my house.
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| Posted 8/19/07 9:02 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
Posted by alnem
its not bs....agency disclosures are REQUIRED by law to be signed at the first substantive meeting. meaning, you ask the realtor a question about the house and they HAVE to show you the disclosure and explain it to you so that there's no confusion as to who they work for. its in the buyers best interest that it be disclosed. when a realtor DOESNT show it to you or ask you to sign it, THEY are the ones breaking the law. you can say "i prefer not to sign anything" thats fine but they have to fill out a different form with your info that gets sent to the dept of state.
Yes, I always had to sign it and understood why.
This is to make sure that you understand that the agent doesn't work for you but for the seller. In another word, don't disclose anything you don't want the seller to know either. 
Unless you have a buyer's agent. Then they work for you not the seller.
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| Posted 8/19/07 10:12 PM |
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TJLealand3
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/07 839 total posts
Name:
Thomas
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
I just looked and I actually have 533 pictures of 10 different houses that we looked at in the last 3 months of our search on a photo share website......... I placed them on aol Photo so that I could look at the houses at work....
One time I remember being told that I could not take pictures of the house and I said well, I guess this is not the house for me and left.
Some days we would look at 3 or 4 houses....... there is no way in he!! you could keep them straight without photos..........
Good luck and remember to have fun....
Message edited 8/20/2007 8:28:43 AM.
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| Posted 8/20/07 8:21 AM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
Posted by Tine73
I have never taken pictures at an open house, only during the inspections.
ditto, I really didn't think it was neccessary especiallly if the house is on MLS with pics already.
DH and I have a decent memory, so it wasn't an issue. Plus, once I got into the car, I would always right notes on the sheet the realtors gave us.
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| Posted 8/20/07 8:42 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
Posted by LaPetiteSirène
We asked (about taking photos) once a long time ago and the realtor gave us a very long and condescending speech about why it's inappropriate.
Do you remember what they said about why it's inappropriate? I could understand not wanting pictures of your belongings up on the internet somewhere public, especially a child's room.
I've only put one set of pictures on my website in a non-public section so my family and friends could see. But that was after we had an accepted offer.
But, we are also so anal that at an inspection we had, I had drawn a floor plan and measured every wall and doorway. 
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| Posted 8/20/07 9:07 AM |
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
I looked at about 85 houses and only took pics of the ones I really thought had potential.
The only reason I took pics was because 9 times out of 10, DH wasn't with me. If I liked something, I wanted to show him everything, and as we all know, the pictures on MLS can be VERY deceiving.
I always asked permission from the REA and if the homeowner was there, I asked permission from them as well.
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| Posted 8/20/07 9:23 AM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: Taking pics at open houses / showings
Good point, we did forego pictures on houses that we didn't like that much.
And yes, I too was looking at houses without DH. And my parents love seeing the pictures of houses we're considering.
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| Posted 8/20/07 9:34 AM |
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