Is it OK to Take Photos While Viewing Homes For Sale?

Is it OK to Take Photos While Viewing Homes For Sale?

Well, it depends...
You have an appointment to view homes and you want to be able to review the homes later at your leisure. Taking a camera and grabbing a few photos of your own sounds like a great idea. After all, the owners WANT to sell... they should encourage you to take photos if it will help sell the home, right?

BUT wait.

• Don't just stick the camera in your pocket, or count on being able to pull your phone out and click a few images for yourself. Practice good ettiquette as a home buyer.

• When wanting additional photos of a home that you are considering buying think ahead and BEFORE setting out to view homes, ask your real estate agent if it is OK for you to take photos of listings.

• Remember that the homes that you are viewing often are someone's residence with their personal belongings in them. If the agent has not asked the listing agent or the seller about potential buyers taking additional photos, they can do so before the viewings.

• An excellent alternative that I, as a real estate agent, offer is that I will have my camera, phone, or iPad with me and can take some additional photos for you while we are viewing (I will also ask if it's OK for me to do so, if it's not my listing). Many homes have things in them that they do not want publicized any more than necessary like the gun safe that is encased in the cabinet in the laundry room in the home on Tallow Street.

I'm so glad that you are thinking ahead and that you did ask if it's OK to take photos while viewing homes instead of just bringing the camera out of the pocket or using the phone to do it.
By asking, you have shown me that you are a considerate person. Remember that the fact that you were considerate and asked before doing so may make a difference in any negotiations that you end up in....you never know.

Photo image courtesy of TaylorSchades, via Morguefile.

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Judi Barrett

Broker, Integrity Real Estate Services,

Office Address: 1280 Brown Addition Rd., IDABEL, OK 74745 580-212-5946

Judi Barrett, B.S. Edu.,