Buying a house - taking photos

dazeruk

I posted this question on another forum and was shot down as some kind of pervert.

I'm a first time buyer about to start looking for a property.

What is the etiquette regarding taking photos of a property you're viewing?

Would a seller be offended?

I ask for a few reasons

1) I currently live in a council property. We had surveyors around recently checking on what repairs needed doing. Instead of taking lots and lots of notes they just took photos.

2) Photos on estate agent websites/boards are obviously taken to show the property in the best light.

3) I might see things that I would find hard to describe, for example the style of fireplace or colour of a bathroom suit.

4) If I'm viewing a number of properties I know I'm gonna get the details of one mixed up with the details of another.

t0rt0ise

I can't see why anyone would object to photos being taken. Go for it.

Welsh_Totster

Ask,at worst the vendors can only say no, at best they agree! I viewed 45 houses before we bought the one we live in now and always asked if they minded me taking pix, no one refused! It's a great way of looking back on properties especially if you happen to be looking at lots of similar style places as one merges into another after a while!

Jojo1daffy

I would not let anyone take photos in my home until after contracts have exchanged. Estate agents take plenty, I wouldn't want a time-waster taking photos - go have another look on the EA's website if you need reminding!

satchmeister

Welsh_Totster wrote: »

Ask,at worst the vendors can only say no, at best they agree! I viewed 45 houses before we bought the one we live in now and always asked if they minded me taking pix, no one refused! It's a great way of looking back on properties especially if you happen to be looking at lots of similar style places as one merges into another after a while!

If you ask then they will normally say OK and the seller will make every effort NOT to appear in the pics. Absolutly essential IMHO to take pictures, esp the views through the windows, else you might not see the railway line running past the back of the house, or the dog pound backing onto your garden ... if you see a few viewings they do just blur into each other.

BeauBelle

There is no way I would let a viewer take their own pictures of my house. From a security point of view anything valuable that I may have put away when the agent took their photos could be on display when you are viewing. My friend is a police officer and its not unknown for some disreputable people to give the agent false details to view, take their own photos and then the house gets burgled later on.

I'm afraid I would be saying NO!

hazyjo

I wouldn't feel happy about it on a first viewing - that should be all about gut feeling. If they wanted to come back and take a 2nd or 3rd view, I'd probably let them take pics.

Jx

sonastin

Definitely ask, don't just presume that it would be OK. As you can see, some people would prefer you didn't but others might not have such strong feelings about it. If the vendor is offended that you even dared to ask, well that gives you an inkling as to how easy it will be to negotiate with them!

Dave101t

i think your only classed as a pervert if your outside the property on a ladder peering in the bathroom window while the kids are bathing, or the granny.

harrup

dazeruk wrote: »

I posted this question on another forum and was shot down as some kind of pervert.

I'm a first time buyer about to start looking for a property.

What is the etiquette regarding taking photos of a property you're viewing?

Would a seller be offended?

.

Offended? No.

Disconcerted? Maybe.

TOBRUK

It is only good manners to ask about taking photos. It is quite hard to have someone looking around your 'home' as it is - yes it is still someone's home until it is sold.;)

I had a few viewings and there were a few quite arrogant viewers who strutted round the house, it felt quite horrible to be honest. I have now sold, cross fingers! The process has begun.

I have also been viewing myself and I am very aware that I am going into someone's 'home' and it is only right to show a little respect.

I'm sure if you ask to take photos some will probably agree, but as someone said before, there may be some valuables around the house and you really don't know who is viewing!

What I found useful was to have a sheet of paper for each house I viewed with questions I wanted to ask about and boxes at the side to tick or comment on each one, each room. I would also give a mark for alsorts e.g. decor, flooring etc. I also drew a rough floorplan as soon as I could after to help remember what the house was like.

I know why photos are helpful as you soon forget things, and if you go for a second viewing, it's nothing like you remember!