Buying a house - taking photos

googler

A seller is happy to have their agent photograph all angles of their rooms, with all the antiques/family photos/personal possessions on display, and to have these photos uploaded to the internet, and have thousands upon thousands of people look at them, and digest their content, but....

A viewer contacts their agent, makes an appointment to view, visits their home (where they can see all the same stuff with their own eyes) and the seller won't let the viewer photograph the same stuff that's all over the internet anyways?

LydiaJ

I took loads of photos of one empty house that we looked round. In fact, I took two cameras and gave them to my two kids to keep them busy while I was taking a long hard look at the house. It was a bit of a special case, though - empty, and with a fair amount of botched work that would have needed redoing. I decided by the end of the viewing that my surveyor would tell me I was insane to take on such a wreck, so I might as well save myself the expense of paying him to look at it and tell me what I already knew.

Most houses I looked at I didn't take pictures. I looked round, knew I didn't want the place, and moved on. I did take pictures of two that I put offers in on, though. I can't remember if it was first or second viewing. One house I just took pictures of the outside, so as to use them in a planning enquiry about an extension. The other one I wanted pictures of the fitted kitchen units to help me to remember how they fitted into the space. I asked, and the vendors agreed.

With the house I bought, however, I knew before I set foot through the door that I was in love with it, and everything I saw just confirmed it. There was no need to take pictures and I didn't take any. My first offer was rejected. When they dropped the price some 8 months later, I offered again and was accepted. They asked if I'd like to view again, but I said there was no need, because I was already sure. I'm living in it now, and I'm still just as sure.

Mistral001

No do not even ask in my opinion. The estate agent and surveyor will take pictures and keep them confidential (if they don't then sue them). Few vendors iare going to like it and even if they do agree they will agree with doubts in their mind as to what will be done to the photos - or they should do at least.

danothy

Mistral001 wrote: »

... The estate agent and surveyor will take pictures and keep them confidential ...

If you count being posted on the internet as confidential ...

neas

We took photos when we bought our house... as we wanted to have opinion of our friends and family.

And lets face it the estate agent even tarted some images up (white light balance etc)... so to get real pictures helps.

We specifically took pictures of anything that worried us (as we were FTBers)... forget the contents.... thins like cracks in walls, repaired walls... i.e. 1 inch cracks etc etc... Massive cracks in garages.

We then sent them to father in law who advise d us if it was a problem.

If someone said i couldn't take photos of cracks or other things of concern i'd say goodbye and good luck... as i wouldn't take risk.

most times vendor wasnt there... and estate agent let us anyways. People should get over themselves.... i dont care what you have in your house, dont care about your family but if im gonna spend a massive amount on your house.. and you want to sell it then i will want to take pictuers to reduce my risk of being sold a pup.

MuddledOfMiddlesex

danothy wrote: »

If you count being posted on the internet as confidential ...

Exactly! I do find people's horror of this really surprising, though of course I'm not saying you're entirely within your rights to refuse. I have sometimes seen five or six properties in one day, and while some agents' photos are fab, others are so bad that they look as though the family dog has taken them, so it's a really useful aide memoire for things like what work might need to be done, whether existing furniture might fit in your home etc.

Having a house on the market does involve all sorts of horrors, and loss of privacy is one of them, but the reward is worth it, surely? I'd say that, in general, someone wanting to take pictures could even be a positive as it suggests they're a serious buyer (there might be the odd snooper but really, that's up to the agent to try to suss out). I have sold three times and each time have accepted that viewers will be able to do what they need. It's the same as that instinct to open cupboard doors as a viewer. I try to contain it but sometimes it's hard to know quite what to DO when an agent is bleating on about 'and this is the window which is excellent for both retaining heat in winter and letting light in during the summer, an excellent feature, isn't it?' And if the cupboard door falls off, then it suggests a certain something about maintenance elsewhere...

Each to their own, though. I always check with agents (have rarely if ever had a first viewing with a vendor, which I think is best for both parties as when I've sold it has been soul-destroying seeing people's faces) and have only once been refused, by an agent who said I might give the pictures to another estate agent. That guy also happens to be the worst agent I have ever come across.

cte1111

I would be quite happy for people to take pictures.

I've been looking at houses and flats for my Dad and he took pictures of places (and the views from their windows) that he liked so he could remember them and discuss them with other relatives. It's hard making a decision about where to live for the next x years and sometimes a second opinion helps. I can't really understand people's reluctance.

Doshwaster

I always asked and most agreed. It's a bit trickier if the viewing is done with the agent and the seller isn't present - is he is a position to give permission?

Also don't forget the value of written notes. Take a notebook with you and write down things you see. When you leave the property write up some notes as quick as you can will everything is still fresh in your memory. After seeing 30 properties you won't remember which one had which kitchen.

Mallotum_X

When I bought my current place 6 years ago I asked at all of the houses I saw and not one objected to photos. If you are looking at several then photos help to pick the good ones out.

Sellers refusing, especially in the current climate, really does just seem very silly, do they not want to sell!

zara*elise

I wouldn't have a problem with a viewer asking to take pictures of my property. All valuables were removed when we started the redecorating/decluttering/selling process and whenever we have a viewing I make sure all bags, wallets, purses etc are hidden out of view. So they're not going to photograph anything that isn't already on the internet. And if it helps them remember how lovely the bathroom is or how spacious the bedroom is then I'm more than happy to oblige.

I've taken photos of properties, but only on the second viewing. First viewing is usually to get a feel for the place. If we like, then we'll either take parents with us for an opinion or go back and take photos then show them to parents for their opinion. Dad has a keen eye for bodge jobs.