Estate Agent Reuse of Photos

MeteredOut

RHemmings said:

BlueVeranda said:

I wonder if they've actually told the EA nothing has changed since they bought it so that's why the EA reused the photos.

My money is on laziness. 

My money is on the EA (or the vendor) not wanting to pay a photographer to take new photo's.

emma203

An update for those with money/drinks riding on the outcome. 

I have received a grovelling apology from the estate agent who assures me he will make sure it never happens again. His excuse is that the vendor asked them to reuse the photos to "save time" but he accepts that they should not have agreed. The interior shots have been taken down - obviously I have no problem with reuse of the outside ones. 

I can't help thinking it's an odd marketing strategy though - if a house turned out to be very different from the photos that attracted me to view, it would raise a big red flag for me and I'd certainly be asking some awkward questions. 

Bonniepurple

I’m so pleased.  I must admit that I’ve been very relieved that my parents’ house is being bought by a neighbour’s son so it hasn’t gone through estate agents as it was decidedly unloved in the last years of my Dad’s life.  

emma203

Bonniepurple said:

I’m so pleased.  I must admit that I’ve been very relieved that my parents’ house is being bought by a neighbour’s son so it hasn’t gone through estate agents as it was decidedly unloved in the last years of my Dad’s life.  

To be fair, the agents (independent local company) were brilliant during the sale which is perhaps why this came as such a shock. I'm not a particularly suspicious person, but "my" photos did make the house look lovely and I can't help wondering what it looks like now .....